Unexploded Ordnance Found at a Laotian Elementary School. Dangerous Situation as Children Handle it with Bare Hands.
On April 29, 2026, a dangerous incident occurred in northern Laos where an elementary school student found and handled unexploded ordnance (UXO) with bare hands during school cleaning. Certified NPO Terra Renaissance reports this event, re-emphasizing the ongoing danger of UXO remaining in Laos for decades and the crucial importance of UXO avoidance education.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 22:37 (10h 5m after Collected)
Unexploded Ordnance Found by Elementary School Student During Cleaning
Certified NPO Terra Renaissance (Headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; Chairperson: Mai Yoshida), which supports the self-reliance of conflict victims in Asia, Africa, and Ukraine, announced on April 29, 2026, a highly dangerous incident at Sieng Mai Elementary School in Peck District, Xieng Khouang Province, northern Laos. A child discovered unexploded ordnance during school cleaning and carried it with bare hands to a teacher.
According to local staff, the UXO was found at Sieng Mai Elementary School in Peck District. A 5th-grade student discovered it while cleaning the school grounds.
The child, without fully understanding the danger, reportedly carried it by hand to report it to the teacher.
Kongsamin, a staff member of Terra Renaissance Laos Office, received the report and has instructed that the ordnance be stored in a safe place. As Laos was observing a series of holidays for May Day, a specialist team for UXO clearance is scheduled to handle the disposal after the holidays.
Found Unexploded Ordnance
■ "The War Is Not Over" — 80 Million UXO Remaining in Laos for 50 Years
In Laos, vast quantities of cluster bombs were dropped over nine years during the Vietnam War, from 1964 to 1973. Approximately 80 million UXO are still estimated to remain, existing in farmlands, forests, and around schools—right alongside people's daily lives.
Children learning about bomb types in a peaceful school setting
In March 2026, Kumi Shimono, Public Relations Manager for Terra Renaissance, visited elementary schools in Xieng Khouang Province, Laos.
A peaceful scene unfolded, starting with morning exercises for all students, and during lunch break, children were engrossed in playing on horizontal bars and other activities. There was also a somewhat nostalgic sight of cows leisurely crossing the school grounds.
However, on the walls of the classrooms, posters for "UXO Avoidance Education" provided by Terra Renaissance were displayed.
Children learn how to identify "bombies" (sub-munitions) and how to report them to adults if found. They use precious time that would otherwise be spent on regular studies to learn about different types of bombs through specialized materials like picture-card stories, songs, and cards.
Classroom for lower elementary grades. Posters promoting the dangers of bombs and correct actions upon discovery are displayed on the wall. Teaching materials used in class, showing how to distinguish bombs from similar-shaped objects (e.g., balls)
"Actually, I want to decorate with world maps and cute pictures."
Ideally, classrooms would be decorated with world maps and cute pictures.
However, in Laos, children still lose limbs or eyesight due to UXO accidents.
For example, Pana Yang, an 8-year-old girl supported by Terra Renaissance, lost one eye when an old bullet buried in the ground exploded from the heat while her family was burning trash in their yard. Fragments still remain in her eye.
The "scars of war" continue to exist right alongside children's daily lives.
■ "I want UXO Avoidance Education to be a national system, not just partial aid" — A Field Resident's Challenge
Terra Renaissance is currently continuously engaged in UXO avoidance education in 25 schools across Laos.
Hanako Iwamura, Project Manager for the Laos Office, states that she aims for this to become a "national education system" rather than a one-off aid, so that "education can remain as a 'national system' even after we leave. We are developing training programs for teachers and advancing proposals to the government so that it can be continuously implemented in each school."
Furthermore, Iwamura, in collaboration with other organizations, aims to build the "Xieng Khouang Model" to spread UXO education throughout the entire region.
Iwamura discussing the implementation of UXO avoidance education with teachers at a local elementary school. In town, signs indicating UXO clearance are visible everywhere.
■ The presence of Japanese supporters is protecting children's lives.
The UXO avoidance education posters displayed in classrooms are printed thanks to donations from Japanese supporters. In Laos, 1,000 yen can print three posters. These are utilized in elementary schools and kindergartens as educational materials to convey danger to children.
This recent incident once again demonstrated that UXO avoidance education is essential for protecting children's lives.
War does not end when a ceasefire is declared.
Unexploded ordnance left in the ground continues to threaten the daily lives of children and grandchildren for decades.
And even at this moment, new landmines and UXO continue to be created around the world.
Terra Renaissance will continue its activities to protect the lives and futures of children in Laos.
Certified NPO Terra Renaissance (Headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; Chairperson: Mai Yoshida), which supports the self-reliance of conflict victims in Asia, Africa, and Ukraine, announced on April 29, 2026, a highly dangerous incident at Sieng Mai Elementary School in Peck District, Xieng Khouang Province, northern Laos. A child discovered unexploded ordnance during school cleaning and carried it with bare hands to a teacher.
According to local staff, the UXO was found at Sieng Mai Elementary School in Peck District. A 5th-grade student discovered it while cleaning the school grounds.
The child, without fully understanding the danger, reportedly carried it by hand to report it to the teacher.
Kongsamin, a staff member of Terra Renaissance Laos Office, received the report and has instructed that the ordnance be stored in a safe place. As Laos was observing a series of holidays for May Day, a specialist team for UXO clearance is scheduled to handle the disposal after the holidays.
Found Unexploded Ordnance
■ "The War Is Not Over" — 80 Million UXO Remaining in Laos for 50 Years
In Laos, vast quantities of cluster bombs were dropped over nine years during the Vietnam War, from 1964 to 1973. Approximately 80 million UXO are still estimated to remain, existing in farmlands, forests, and around schools—right alongside people's daily lives.
Children learning about bomb types in a peaceful school setting
In March 2026, Kumi Shimono, Public Relations Manager for Terra Renaissance, visited elementary schools in Xieng Khouang Province, Laos.
A peaceful scene unfolded, starting with morning exercises for all students, and during lunch break, children were engrossed in playing on horizontal bars and other activities. There was also a somewhat nostalgic sight of cows leisurely crossing the school grounds.
However, on the walls of the classrooms, posters for "UXO Avoidance Education" provided by Terra Renaissance were displayed.
Children learn how to identify "bombies" (sub-munitions) and how to report them to adults if found. They use precious time that would otherwise be spent on regular studies to learn about different types of bombs through specialized materials like picture-card stories, songs, and cards.
Classroom for lower elementary grades. Posters promoting the dangers of bombs and correct actions upon discovery are displayed on the wall. Teaching materials used in class, showing how to distinguish bombs from similar-shaped objects (e.g., balls)
"Actually, I want to decorate with world maps and cute pictures."
Ideally, classrooms would be decorated with world maps and cute pictures.
However, in Laos, children still lose limbs or eyesight due to UXO accidents.
For example, Pana Yang, an 8-year-old girl supported by Terra Renaissance, lost one eye when an old bullet buried in the ground exploded from the heat while her family was burning trash in their yard. Fragments still remain in her eye.
The "scars of war" continue to exist right alongside children's daily lives.
■ "I want UXO Avoidance Education to be a national system, not just partial aid" — A Field Resident's Challenge
Terra Renaissance is currently continuously engaged in UXO avoidance education in 25 schools across Laos.
Hanako Iwamura, Project Manager for the Laos Office, states that she aims for this to become a "national education system" rather than a one-off aid, so that "education can remain as a 'national system' even after we leave. We are developing training programs for teachers and advancing proposals to the government so that it can be continuously implemented in each school."
Furthermore, Iwamura, in collaboration with other organizations, aims to build the "Xieng Khouang Model" to spread UXO education throughout the entire region.
Iwamura discussing the implementation of UXO avoidance education with teachers at a local elementary school. In town, signs indicating UXO clearance are visible everywhere.
■ The presence of Japanese supporters is protecting children's lives.
The UXO avoidance education posters displayed in classrooms are printed thanks to donations from Japanese supporters. In Laos, 1,000 yen can print three posters. These are utilized in elementary schools and kindergartens as educational materials to convey danger to children.
This recent incident once again demonstrated that UXO avoidance education is essential for protecting children's lives.
War does not end when a ceasefire is declared.
Unexploded ordnance left in the ground continues to threaten the daily lives of children and grandchildren for decades.
And even at this moment, new landmines and UXO continue to be created around the world.
Terra Renaissance will continue its activities to protect the lives and futures of children in Laos.