Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic Laos is not the only country in the world contaminated by cluster munitions. Over the past forty years, cluster munitions have been dropped on 29 different nations, killing or injuring an estimated 100,000 people. And, every country that has ever been struck by cluster munitions continues to suffer, to some...
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Mahosot Hospital - Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic In my previous journal entry, dated February 27, 2009, I described the way in which my friend Gadam was afflicted by Noma, an ulcerative condition of the mouth, sometimes described as “oro-facial gangrene”. As promised, in this entry I will share the story of Gadam’s arrival at Mahosot...
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Mahaxai Village, Khammouan Province, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic The village of Mahaxai in Khoumuan Province sits in south-central Laos, about forty miles west of the border with Vietnam. During the Indochina War this village the site of violent clashes between infantry of the Royal Lao army and Vietnamese troops fighting on behalf of the indigenous Pathet...
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Tha Lang Village - Nakai District, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic We never, ever, in any way, under any circumstance, pay villagers to report ordnance to us. Not one kip in payment. Not a t-shirt, schoolbook, food, candy, bottle of beer, or any other modest reward. Today the guys walked a fine line to win the cooperation...
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Odoumsouk Village - Nakai District, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic I’m well positioned here to get the first word on the quality of the upcoming Lao rice harvest. I can get the real skinny on current fishing conditions on the Nam Theun River. Before just about anyone else in America I’ll know the date that the mango...
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Odoumsouk Village - Nakai District, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic I’ve made it a habit to stop and talk with amputees. I find that about half the time the cause of the amputation was an accident with a bombie, landmine, or other old ordnance. I learn from the tales that bomb victims have to tell and often...
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WHWV provides help directly to individuals or communities impoverished by war; the organization partners with other nongovernmental organizations to provide services as needed. We have no shortage of challenges or ideas; we are limited only by the amount of resources we have to share.
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Vientiane, Laos Peoples Democratic Republic Hospitals in Laos lack many of the resources that you would expect to see in an American or European hospital. Most notably, patients have to make do without the support of nurses and aides. When people check into a Lao hospital they must bring with them a family member who...
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Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic Yai and I were both apprehensive about our trip from Odoumsouk village to the city of Vientiane. Its less than 300 miles from point to point but in Laos the rigors of a journey are never measured in miles. We’ve never traveled from our camp to the capital without having...
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Nakai District - Khammouan Province - Lao Peoples Democratic Republic It wasn’t the first time that someone has walked into our house and tried to hand over a bomb, so you would think we’d be more practiced, patient and understanding. Truth be told, it’s not the sort of thing you ever get used to. And it’s...
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