Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2016 7:02:25 GMT 7
Reading this would make you wince -
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www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37286520
The bombs, as one Laotian described it, "fell like rain", US President Barack Obama said Tuesday on a visit to Laos, a first for any sitting US president.
"Given our history here, I believe that the United States has a moral obligation to help Laos heal," he said.
He referred to America's secret and devastating bombing of Laos during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 70s.
Some $90m (£68m) will be spent over three years for the removal of cluster bombs and other unexploded ordnance.
That compares to $100m spent in the last 20 years.
........................................................
The Numbers -
President Obama described Laos as the most heavily bombed nation in history. Eight bombs a minute were dropped on average during the Vietnam war between 1964 and 1973 - more than the amount used during the whole of World War II.
The US flew 580,344 bombing missions over Laos, dropping 260m bombs - equating to 2m tons of ordnance, with many targets in the south and north struck time and again.
Most devices dropped were anti-personnel cluster bombs. An estimated 30% of these munitions did not detonate.
Ten of the 18 Laotian provinces have been described as "severely contaminated" by unexploded ordnance (UXO).
Mine-clearing agencies estimate that about 288m cluster munitions and about 75m unexploded bombs were left across Laos after the war ended.
.......................................................
Staggering
.......................................................
www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37286520
The bombs, as one Laotian described it, "fell like rain", US President Barack Obama said Tuesday on a visit to Laos, a first for any sitting US president.
"Given our history here, I believe that the United States has a moral obligation to help Laos heal," he said.
He referred to America's secret and devastating bombing of Laos during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 70s.
Some $90m (£68m) will be spent over three years for the removal of cluster bombs and other unexploded ordnance.
That compares to $100m spent in the last 20 years.
........................................................
The Numbers -
President Obama described Laos as the most heavily bombed nation in history. Eight bombs a minute were dropped on average during the Vietnam war between 1964 and 1973 - more than the amount used during the whole of World War II.
The US flew 580,344 bombing missions over Laos, dropping 260m bombs - equating to 2m tons of ordnance, with many targets in the south and north struck time and again.
Most devices dropped were anti-personnel cluster bombs. An estimated 30% of these munitions did not detonate.
Ten of the 18 Laotian provinces have been described as "severely contaminated" by unexploded ordnance (UXO).
Mine-clearing agencies estimate that about 288m cluster munitions and about 75m unexploded bombs were left across Laos after the war ended.
.......................................................
Staggering
