One of the places I heard about and wanted to go to was the COPE foundation. It is a solemn visitor center and museum with displays on the history of bombings & related disabilities of those injured from bombings and other accidents that leave them disabled. Sometimes they are brought to the center where they fit them for prosthetics, provide rehab, provide or fix wheelchairs, etc. Many times they will go out to the villaged when they hear there is need.
What really saddens me is the other countries that have stepped up to help Laos in removing bombs that are ask in the ground and active or help with those who have had limbs ripped off as a result. Most notably is Australia.
It actually makes me sad and very angry that the US dies nothing when we were the most at fault fur bombing Laos. They were not in the war at all and this country is so poor and removing the bombs so daunting.
A cluster bomb and the many bombies that are released. 30% are still active today where they sit in the ground.
This does a bombie in the ground. One would not even see it and accidentally step on it. Many of the bombies also have trip wires that can set them off.
Look at all the red areas on the map. These are all areas where bombs have been identified or where known targets could be from bombing records and accounts. If you wonder why Laos is poor, here is one reason.
Many household items are made from bomb casings and scrap that is found.
To read personal accounts of the war and accidental finding of bombies can be found at www.legaciesofwar.org
Some prosthetics they create.
The trip wures coming from a bombie.
