North by North East Newsletter November 2008

The DFID-funded team in Xieng Khouang are currently clearing their most heavily contaminated school yet. So far, 1039 bomblets from cluster bombs (known locally as
‘bombies’) have been found, along with 69 other items of UXO, in an area of forest belonging to Pakea Neua village primary school. The clearance work is not yet complete. About 7, 500 square metres have so far been cleared, with about 2000 remaining. Pakea Neua village is unusual; a beautiful area of forest in the centre of the village, right next to the school, has been protected The forest is quiet and shady, an ideal place for children to play. However, the village was the site of a Vietnamese army camp during the war and was heavily bombed. “Our teacher told us not to go into the forest because of the UXO,” says nine-year old Dit, a student at the school. Some children ignored their teacher and did enter the forest to collect insects. Fortunately, none of them were involved in a UXO accident, although Dit says that her 14 year old cousin was injured elsewhere in the village. “He was walking next to a cow and it stepped on a bombie. His stomach and shoulder were injured,” she says. MAG has already cleared the school playground. Just under the surface the team found the head of a missile, three bombies and a rocket. “We want to go into the forest to play chase,” says Dit. It won’t be long before she can.