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Laos: Helping Children Orphaned
and Injured from UXO
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After Thao Ooh was severely injured in a UXO explosion that killed his father, World Education, through the War Victims Medical Fund, helped cover Ooh's medical expenses and found him a place to live.
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Thao Ooh is an 11-year-old boy from the Champasak
Province in southwestern Laos. On August
11, 2008, Ooh's father was dismantling a
bomb under his home when it exploded. His
father and two siblings were killed, and
the house was destroyed. Ooh, his stepmother,
and 15-year-old stepbrother were all severely
injured, and were rushed to Champasak Hospital.
His stepmother had an open leg fracture,
and his stepbrother had shrapnel injuries.
Ooh's injuries were more serious, and included
open fractures of both lower legs, shrapnel
injuries around his eyes, and a piece of
shrapnel lodged very close to his heart.
Between 1964 and 1973, during the height
of the Vietnam War, more than two million
tons of bombs were dropped in Laos. Up to
a third of the bombs (also called ordnance)
that were dropped on the country did not
explode, and they continue to maim and kill
people when disturbed. Approximately 25%
of all communities in Laos are contaminated
with unexploded ordnance (UXO). Hundreds
of people are injured or killed in UXO accidents
each year, and survivors often suffer severe
abdominal, chest, hand, arm, and head injuries,
which all require extensive surgery and post-operative
care.
About half of all UXO victims are children,
who find the ball-shaped "bombies" while
playing near their homes in rural communities.
Between 1973 and 2007, at least 13,000 people
were severely injured or killed by landmines
or UXO in Laos.
The cost of medical treatment for Ooh's injuries
was covered by the War Victims Medical Fund,
administered by a committee established by
World Education and provincial Departments
of Health in Laos. Since 1996, this group
has provided treatment funds for UXO survivors.
The fund supports the cost of medical treatment,
transportation, and a living allowance while
the patient is in the hospital. If additional
treatment is needed after the initial hospital
stay, the fund also covers these costs.
After two months in the hospital, Ooh returned
to his village, but his stepmother and stepbrother
relocated and he was unable to find them.
Thus Ooh was left on his own. Well enough
to return to school, Ooh needed a place to
live, so during the first four months of
the school year he boarded with his fourth
grade teacher. Unfortunately, with five children
of her own to care for, the teacher could
only care for Ooh temporarily.
World Education coordinated with province
authorities to place Ooh with another family
in Vientiane where he lived for three months.
Ooh played with other children, although
he still had some pain from the metal plates
used to fix his leg fractures. As a result
of the injuries around his eyes, Ooh has
some trouble seeing as well, so he now wears
glasses to help his vision.
Despite these physical difficulties, Ooh
continued in primary school, where he tested
into the fifth grade, skipping one year,
and today he attends a residential high school
in Pakse.
Operating in five provinces throughout Laos,
in 2008 the War Victims Medical Fund paid
for the treatment of 74 people injured by
UXO. The fund is managed by a working group
consisting of a provincial hospital surgeon,
a nurse, representatives from district hospitals,
World Education staff, and a finance officer,
who together make decisions about fund policies
and criteria for use. The fund is partially
supported by the McKnight Foundation and
the U.S. Department of State Office of Weapons
Removal and Abatement (WRA), as well as donations
from private individuals and community groups.
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