Laos
Humanity & Inclusion in Laos
Humanity & Inclusion has helped survivors of mines and explosive remnants of war in Laos since 1983.
Laos has the highest level of contamination from explosive remnants of war of any country on the planet. More than 50 years after the first U.S. bombings during the war in Vietnam, Laos remains heavily contaminated by cluster munitions, and children are the main victims of these weapons.
Our teams in Laos also work closely with institutions and civil societies to address the major causes of disability in the country and to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities.
Areas of Intervention
- Armed Violence Reduction
- Rehabilitation
- Health and prevention
- Inclusion education
- Inclusion
Humanity & Inclusion's 110 staff in Laos are working to reduce the threat of cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war. Teams of mine clearance experts work alongside villagers affected by the presence of these weapons to clear land, destroy devices and raise awareness of the dangers they represent.
At the same time, the organization runs development projects to reduce the risk of disability and improve the social inclusion of people with disabilities. Teams focus on access to employment or entrepreneurship for people with disabilities by providing personalized support and training on how to start their own business. Humanity & Inclusion is also involved in training organizations run by and for people with disabilities to campaign for their rights.
In an effort to prevent disability in children under 5 years old, Humanity & Inclusion promotes the early detection of disability, runs disability awareness activities and organizes stimulation therapy sessions for infants. Humanity & Inclusion also aims to improve access to education for children in the Champasak and Huaphan provinces, and to improve the reading skills of all children—particularly those with disabilities and students who do not speak the Lao language—in the Champasak, Xiengkhouang and Vientiane provinces.
Finally, Humanity & Inclusion works to improve the care provided to people requiring rehabilitation, collaborating with public bodies to develop the country’s rehabilitation sector and providing training for professionals working in this field.
Our Past Work
Humanity & Inclusion has been in Laos since 1983, fostering a culture that is inclusive for ALL people with disabilities and survivors of conflict. Our work has evolved to meet the dynamic needs of those we serve.
Read on to learn more about our past work in Laos, and consider investing in our future.
Health prevention
Teams worked to reduce HIV/AIDS and diseases such as malaria among women, children and teenagers by conducting research, implementing a response model in villages, and training health-sector workers who visit villages.
Bomblets Rained on Laos
People in Laos have been living with unexploded ordnance (UXO), most of it from the U.S., for more than 40 years.
Freeing Laos of landmines
Since July, Handicap International has destroyed 600 mines and explosive munitions left from war in southern Laos.
Read more