Ambassador Tofig Muayev, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan,
Distinguished Participants,

At the outset, my delegation would like to express its sincere appreciation to the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan for organizing this important event as one of the activities to commemorate the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed globally on April 4th every year. The main objective is to advocate for greater awareness about the grave dangers and devastating impacts of explosive remnants of war on people and communities. The Lao PDR is one of the countries most affected by explosive remnants of war, especially by cluster munitions, with an estimated 80 million cluster sub-munitions remaining unexploded and contaminating one-third of the country’s total land area. More than 5 decades after the Indochina war ended, unexploded ordnance has continued to kill and maim innocent people, especially in rural communities, where the
presence of unexploded bombs hinders livelihood activities. In 2024 alone, there were 26 UXO accidents confirmed with 49 casualties, including 9 fatalities, of which 60 percent of the victims were children. Just in the first quarter of this year, 2025, there have been 5 accidents reported, resulting in 9 casualties, of whom 6 persons were injured, and 3 were killed. This is a testament to the reality that people and the local community are still facing daily threats and living in constant fear and shadow of the haunting past. Therefore, we cannot fully realize our development potential without creating a conducive environment and ensuring safety and security for our people. This is an urgent matter that we must continue to overcome.

Distinguished Participants,

To address the daunting legacy of war, the Lao PDR has deployed all efforts to ensure safety for our citizens and improve the well-being of the people impeded by explosive remnants of war, including building basic social and economic infrastructure. To this end, mine action activities remain essential, and substantive resources are needed. Overcoming this challenge is beyond our national capacity and requires increased external support. Given its specific development need, the Lao PDR has adopted its national SDG 18, entitled "Lives Safe from UXO". The key targets include reducing the number of casualties to the lowest extent possible by 2030, ensuring that the needs of all survivors are met, and releasing safe land for our farmers.

Taking this opportunity, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all bilateral donors [namely Australia, Canada, EU, Ireland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, the UK, and the US, among others,] for their continued support to UXO sector in the Lao PDR. In addition, the Lao government has been working closely with many international NGOs [namely HALO Trust, HI (Humanity & Inclusion), JMAS, MAG, NPA, and World Education] in conducting UXO clearance and providing assistance to the victims and their families across the affected provinces in the country.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that enhanced partnership in mine action remains essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda and ensuring the safety and well-being of the local communities. On this note, we continue our call for strengthening international cooperation and assistance to help the most affected countries and people. Only through global efforts and solidarity will the danger caused by explosive remnants of war be addressed.

Thank you