Program and Event

State Department Official Visits UXO Programs in Laos

A UXO Lao official demonstrates the use of various detectors.  To take advantage of improving technology, the U.S. has donated 50 of the most-up-to-date detectors for use in Laos.

UXO Lao advisor John Dingley (left) and Deputy Assistant Secretary Ganyard inspect UXO that has been prepared for detonation.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Stephen Ganyard of the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs visited Laos on April 25-29 to observe U.S.-funded clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO). The United States is the largest donor in this sector. In Vientiane, he received briefings from a number of Lao government officials and foreign donor organizations. In Xieng Khouang, one of the most heavily affected provinces, he visited a metal foundry that will be cleared of explosives by MAG, a non-governmental-organization, with U.S. funding. Accompanied by officials from UXO Lao, the Lao government’s clearance organization, he visited a village where clearance was underway. The village chief told Mr. Ganyard how pleased he was that he and his neighbors would soon be able to farm their fields safely.