Lao PDR - Xieng Khouang Province - The Women of UCT6 unexploded ordnance clearance team

Laos is the most bombed country, per capita, in the world with more than 270 million cluster bomb submunitions dropped on it during the Vietnam War from 1963 to 1974. Bouakham Bounmavilay (48), a widow with 4 children, has worked as a technician for the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Xieng Khouang Province for a year. This is her first paid job. It's MAGs policy to select from the local population the poorest members of the community to be trained and employed as technicians. Bouakhams family has a small farm which has not yet been cleared of UXO. "After finishing my work with MAG, I rush home to help my daughter so there is no time to relax. I would rather go home in order to take care of my family, but during rainy season if the vehicle cannot travel I have to stay at the campl"

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Filename: A0012405cc_1_1.jpg
Copyright: Tessa Bunney
Image Size: 2828x2121 / 843.1KB; Southeast Asia Southeast Asia Laos Lao PDR Xieng Khouang Mines Advisory Group MAG Xieng Khouang Ban Naphia Naphia humanitarian agency charity NGO non-government organisation UXO unexploded ordnance Vietnam War Vietnam war conflict Tessa Bunney countryside rural environment remote isolated village community liaison villagers women woman female consultation development job working work widow technician unsafe land landscape cut cutting bamboo knife tool
Contained in galleries: Lao PDR - The Women of UCT6 unexploded ordnance clearance team

Laos is the most bombed country, per capita, in the world with more than 270 million cluster bomb submunitions dropped on it during the Vietnam War from 1963 to 1974. Bouakham Bounmavilay (48), a widow with 4 children, has worked as a technician for the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Xieng Khouang Province for a year. This is her first paid job. It's MAGs policy to select from the local population the poorest members of the community to be trained and employed as technicians. Bouakhams family has a small farm which has not yet been cleared of UXO. "After finishing my work with MAG, I rush home to help my daughter so there is no time to relax. I would rather go home in order to take care of my family, but during rainy season if the vehicle cannot travel I have to stay at the campl"