Casualties

Casualties in 2009

The National Regulatory Authority (NRA) reported 134 explosive remnants of war (ERW) (including cluster munition remnants) casualties in 82 incidents for 2009 in Lao PDR, though data verification was ongoing as of August 2010 and some detail was only available for 101 of the casualties. The NRA updated 2008 casualty data and reported that there were around 310 casualties from 210 incidents.[1]

The first phase of a nationwide casualty survey recording retrospective data was completed in 2008. It identified 50,136 mine/ERW (including unexploded submunition) casualties, including 29,410 people killed and 20,726 injured since 1964. The majority of casualties recorded (30,128) occurred during the conflict years from 1964 to 1973, and 20,008 in the post-conflict years from 1974 to 2008.[2] By region, the highest numbers of casualties were recorded in Savannakhet province (12,500) and Xieng Khouang province (6,000) together making up some 38% of the total recorded casualties.[3] The second phase of the survey, beginning in 2010, was to collect casualty data from 2008 onwards.

ERW (not including unexploded submunitions) caused most casualties, followed by landmines and unexploded submunitions. From 1964 to 2008, landmines were reported to have caused 19% of casualties and unexploded submunitions 16%, with the remainder caused by other ERW. From 1999–2008, unexploded submunitions caused 29% of casualties and landmines 15%, with the majority of casualties caused by other ERW.[4]

Unexploded submunitions were reported to have caused 7,538 casualties from 1964–2007 (3,170 people killed and 4,368 injured).[5]

Victim Assistance

The total number of mine/ERW survivors in Lao PDR is not known. The number of people surviving an incident between 1964 and October 2008 was recorded as 20,726.[6] However the number of survivors still living at the time of the survey was not recorded. Tentative estimates based on unofficial extrapolation indicate that there may still have been some 11,000–12,000 survivors living in Lao PDR as of 2009.[7]

Phase 1 of the national casualty survey was designed to assist victim assistance organizations in identifying and contacting survivors in need of their services. As an initial result of the survey, child ERW survivors in Savannakhet province were identified for assistance programs. The Lao physical rehabilitation services Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) began undertaking outreach activities based on survey outcomes in order to allow individuals in need to receive prostheses and other mobility devices.[8]

Victim assistance coordination in 2009[9]

The NRA’s Victim Assistance Unit is responsible for victim assistance policy development, sector coordination, and liaison between stakeholders, with the goal of ensuring that the needs of all mine/ERW survivors are met.[10]

The NRA Technical Working Group on Victim Assistance (TWGVA) held regular meetings held in 2009 and was primarily concerned with improving data collection. The group also worked on the development of a victim assistance position paper and strategy.[11]

Several ministries have responsibility for services for persons with disabilities more generally, including the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare and its Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education. The National Commission for Disabled Persons (NCDP) provides an institutional framework; its members include representatives from the relevant ministries and the Lao Disabled People’s Association (LDPA). [12]

In 2009, the LDPA was a regular member of the TWGVA.[13] The NGO World Education (WE) included survivors in its program implementation.[14]

Service accessibility and effectiveness

Victim assistance activities in 2009[15]

Slight improvements in the quality and quantity of some victim assistance services were reported in 2009. However, it was estimated that double the total of available resources would be needed merely in order to provide a range of basic victim assistance services to meet current demand. In particular, funding and capacity were insufficient for local trauma response, orthopedic surgery, psychosocial support, and economic inclusion services.[16]

Rehabilitation centers lacked funding for raw materials and prosthetic components. As in previous years, many people in need of prosthetics services did not have the financial means to travel to a rehabilitation center.[17] The number of wheelchairs available remained insufficient compared to the need in 2009.[18]

Sustainable employment, or self employment, for survivors remained the greatest victim assistance challenge.[19] Little progress was reported in 2009. No increase in psychosocial support activities was reported.

Lao PDR has no specific laws prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities. The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has established regulations protecting persons with disabilities from discrimination and requiring accessible buildings. However, these policies do not have the force of law.[20] In 2009, UNICEF worked in partnership with the NRA and the LDPA to implement disability rights training with key stakeholders.[21] A Draft Decree on the Rights of Persons with disabilities prepared at the beginning of 2008 was still pending government approval by the end of 2009.[22] Differences in treatment in Lao PDR were based on survivors’ needs and no discrimination in the provision of victim assistance services was reported.[23]

Lao PDR ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 25 September 2009.