Notification No. 093/NRA dated 19 November 2012 on UXO clearance for socio-economic development projects in Lao PDR. By: Bounpheng Sisawath Deputy Director General of NRA

References Government Decrees: Decree No. 406/PM, dated 08 November 2011 on the establishment of the National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector in Lao PDR. National Standards for the UXO Sector in Lao. National Strategic Plan for the UXO Sector in Lao “Safe Path Forward II”

Lao PDR is the most heavily bombed country, per capita, in history 580,000 bombing missions were flown over Laos More than 270 million bombies were dropped on Laos Up to 30% failed to detonate 14 of Lao PDR’s 17 provinces suffer UXO contamination or 98 districts are contaminated covering the area of about 87,000 square kilometres. Background

Data Poverty Map US Bombing Data

The impact of UXO on humanitarian. 50,136 people have been killed or injured as a result of UXO accidents in the period Of which, 60% were killed or 30,000 people 40% were injured or 20,000 people 23% were children under18 year olds 13% were female 15% of UXO accident cased by cluster munitions There are 99 UXO casualties in 2011, 56 people in 2012 From beginning to date 2013, there are 27 UXO casualties (killed 10 and injured 17) UXO Impact

The effect of UXO on Development Agricultural (constraint for use and expand) Industrial (power electricity dam, mining, power transmission line, etc…) Education (school building area, school yard, etc…) Health (health center, hospital, etc…) Transportation (road construction, bridge, infrastructure, etc…) Tourism (tourism place)

Baseline to issue notification no. 093/NRA In the past, some development projects did and some did not clear UXO before starting their projects. Some UXO clearances did not ensure the quality and some UXO still remained. Some UXO clearance was done at the area, but it did not follow the national standards for UXO clearance.

Therefore, in order to ensure the clearance complies with national standards, aimed at making the projects area, as well as the Lao territory safe from UXO. The Chair of the National Regulatory Authority for the UXO/Mine Action Sector in the Lao PDR (NRA) issued this notification to inform Ministers, Chairman of relevant organisations and Provincial Governors to give advice to those responsible persons for development projects under their supervision.

I. Humanitarian project: (Public service project) 1.Agricultural (gardening, rice field, grazing land, fruit tree plantation of people experimental station, promotion agricultural area, irrigation and community dam) 2.Education (school building, school yard, student dormitory and library) 3.Health (health center building, hospital, pumping water, water points, clean water) 4.transportation (road access to village, community bridge, road access connecting from district to district, hydrant water to community) 5.Others (Government facilities and offices, power transmission line to community, profit-making of community, tourism place of community) - Firstly, those projects above request to international donors to support for clearance. In addition, the project owner must to set up budget and propose to the government for annual contribution as well. - for clearance tasks assigned to UXO humanitarian operators to conduct survey, clearance and destroy of UXO. Type of projects and budget setting for UXO clearance

II. Government non-profit projects (mega project) 1.High power transmission line project from province to province 2.Electricity substation construction 3.Bridge and national road 4.Airport construction 5.Border transit area - For those projects above, the project owner must to set up budget for survey, clearance and destroy of UXO and propose to the government for approval. Herewith, we could also propose to international donors to support for clearance as well. - for clearance tasks assigned to UXO clearance companies by doing a bid for survey and clearance in accordance with regulation or could be request to Lao army humanitarian force and UXO Lao for survey and clearance as appropriate.

III. National and international investment projects. 1.Tree plantation projects and Huber plantation project for business 2.Agricultural plantations 3.Projects in economic zone of government 4.Power electricity dam construction, power transmission line, agricultural areas and accommodations around project - those project above, the project owner must to set up adequate budget for survey, clearance and destroy of UXO and hire UXO clearance companies to conduct survey and clearance of UXO in accordance with regulation.

IV. UXO clearance companies hiring for survey and clearance 1.Project owner associated with NRA to discuss about the procedure of UXO survey and clearance and hire as well. 2.Do not allow project owner hire UXO clearance company have not accredited or accreditation expired to conduct the UXO survey and clearance

V. Quality Assurance (Items 3 & 5 of Notification 093) 1.UXO clearance must be undertaken under quality assurance by the NRA. Project owners have to set up sufficient budget for quality assurance. 2. The quality assurance is in accordance with the national standards.

Thank you