€500,000 to support clearance of unexploded ordnance in Lao PDR

Ireland, through its Embassy in Hanoi, has announced funding of €500,000 to support HALO Trust’s demining and bomb disposal work in Lao PDR over the next twelve months.

The announcement was made at a meeting in Vientiane on 3 March, 2026.

Renewed funding

The renewed funding will allow for the clearance of at least 550,000 square metres of high-priority unexploded ordnance (UXO) contaminated land in and around some of the most bombing-affected villages in the Xepon and Vilabouly districts of Savannakhet province. Additionally, it will provide for 350 risk education sessions throughout Savannakhet province to inform local populations about the dangers of UXO and how best to prevent accidents.

Over 50 years after the end of the war, Lao farmers and children are still being killed or injured by unexploded bombs. Extensive UXO contamination continues to pose a risk to the livelihoods, socio-economic development, and quality of life of those living in affected communities.

Ambassador of Ireland to Lao PDR, Ms Deirdre Ní Fhallúin said: ‘The removal of explosives and clearance of land for agricultural use is vital in ensuring that families in rural areas can improve their food security and secure sustainable livelihood. By partnering with The HALO Trust, we are supporting a workforce where women are at the frontline of technical clearance. These women are not only making their communities safe; they are challenging traditional roles and becoming economic leaders in their own right.”

This work with HALO builds on Ireland’s longstanding support to the humanitarian demining sector in the country, in partnership with UNDP and the Government of Lao PDR. Ireland’s funding supports the National Regulatory Authority in achieving SDG 18: Lives Saved from UXO. Ireland has provided over €13 million in the past twenty years for this important work.

Since 2023, the Embassy of Ireland has provided €1,800,000, including the €500,000 announced today, to the HALO Trust for UXO clearance and education sessions on UXO risks to the targeted communities in two districts of Vilabouly and Sepon in Savannakhet province. This province has the highest rate of UXO contamination and the largest number of casualties due to UXO accidents - 25% of all UXO accidents in Laos.

The funding from Ireland to HALO will focus on the clearance of land contaminated with cluster munitions and other UXO, and the provision of mine risk education to the targeted communities in Savannakhet province.

Ireland hosted the Dublin Diplomatic Conference in May 2008 where the Convention on Cluster Munitions was adopted by 107 nations. In 2020, Lao PDR hosted the first Meeting of State Parties, and in September 2026, will host the Third Review Conference.

Ireland has been a development partner for Lao PDR since 2006, with other programmes focusing on food security, education, and nutrition. Under the Embassy of Ireland’s Mission Strategy 2023 – 2027, Ireland has scaled up its development cooperation programmes in Lao PDR, with a view to deepening Ireland’s impact across the country and supporting additional key areas such as climate action and governance.