From Bombs to Spoons: Laos' 50-Year Transformation Since the Secret CIA War

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This headline is brought to you by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR) which works to support resilience and recovery in global communities affected by war and conflict.


(Yahoo) Tour guide Kham Dee reveals that in Xieng Khouang, Laos, bomb remnants are repurposed into everyday items. The "war spoon village," Ban Napia, exemplifies this transformation, where fragments of bombs are crafted into spoons and souvenirs. Laos remains the most bombed country per capita, with 270 million cluster bombs dropped by the CIA from 1964 to 1973, leaving millions of unexploded ordnance (UXO).

The country was a secret battleground in the US fight against communism during the Vietnam War. Decades later, the UXO still endangers lives, with many deaths and injuries reported annually. Experts predict similar prolonged dangers in conflict zones like Ukraine and Gaza, where UXOs pose a significant threat for years to come.

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Published: Thursday, June 13, 2024

Last Updated: Thursday, June 13, 2024

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