Laos has been absolutely incredible, we’ve done so many things like living in the jungle, visiting the Elephant Conservation Centre, and seen amazing waterfalls, pretty much all the surface level fun on offer to tourists.
The deeper level of Laos came to light after visiting the COPE centre in Vientiane, a centre that specialises in prosthetics and rehabilitation after people have suffered the effects of Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs), or bombs. Indeed, during the Vietnam war, TWO MILLION TONNES of ordnance was dropped on Laos. 30% of that failed to detonate and so there are STILL Unexploded bombs lying around the country. I take walking down the street for granted but for some people here that is a traumatic experience.
Life is a gamble for many, they either continue farming and potentially die, or don’t farm and not have enough food for the family.
The organisation MAG is helping to clear the UXOs but it requires so much time and resource that less than 1% has been cleared. They ‘find and clear UXOs before children do’.
COPE are an incredible organisation made up of medics, physiotherapists, OTs and more to try and help people live as comfortably as possible after injuries from the bombs.
Have you had an accident that wasn’t your fault?
It’s a mad world.
