Laos is a landlocked country in the northeastern-central mainland in Southeast Asia. It consists of an irregularly round portion in the north that narrows into a peninsula-like region stretching to the southeast.
Did you wonder why are we talking about Laos in the first place? We are talking about Laos because they are the most heavily bombed place in the world and is in need of money to be able to afford the equipment and for medical help.
Laos is in need of UXO clearance because of the US bombing from 1964 to 1973. Their Damage caused about 280 deaths and 650 injuries since 1973. That is a lot of damage.
The bombing happened from 1964 to 1973. The US bombed Laos every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 years. That is impressive!
The reason that Laos was bombed in the first place was because of the American Secret War in Laos to support the Royal Lao Government against the Pathet Lao and to direct traffick away along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The bombings destroyed many villages.
Laos was not involved but for almost nine years, Laos was a battlefield in the armed conflict between the neighbouring North Vietnam and the United States. During the war, US forces flew over 500,000 aerial bombing raids over Laos, which were said to aim at gaining control of the Trường Sơn Strategic Supply Route. Trường Sơn Strategic Supply Route also means the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
There is an estimate of 80 million bombs left scattered nationwide. The whole amount is more than two million tons. That is even more than the amount of bombs dropped in the second world war!