Making Land Safe Again: Our Visit with MAG in Laos

At Yoyo Laos Sauce, our partnership with Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is central to our belief that a business can 'do good' from the outset. Since 2021, we’ve supported MAG through a donation from every sauce sale and visiting their UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) clearance work in Laos has been a long-held goal.

While we had seen elements of MAG’s work during previous visits, this trip was about spending time with a team carrying out the work, understanding the realities on the ground, and seeing first-hand the impact made possible by our customers’ support.

A heartfelt thank you to Ellenor Baron, Isabelle Urumath (Bella) and Ounheuane Houamsavanthong (Oun) for making this visit possible and to all the wonderful individuals we had the opportunity to spend time with in Xieng Khouang.

Why UXO Clearance Still Matters in Laos

Laos remains the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world. Between 1964 and 1973, during the Vietnam War, the country endured a bombing mission every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 9 consecutive years.

An estimated 30% of bombs failed to detonate, leaving millions of unexploded devices buried in fields, forests, and villages. Estimates vary on how long it will take for Laos to be UXO-free. Progress will depend on access, continued efficiency gains in survey and clearance and importantly sustained funding, which is why every donation counts. 

The stark reality is that over 20,000 people in Laos have been killed due to unexploded ordnance since the Vietnam War ended, some 50 years ago. Half of those killed have been children.

Journey to Xieng Khouang Province

We travelled from Vientiane, the capital of Laos, to Phonsavan, the provincial capital of Xieng Khouang Province. Though the flight takes just 35 minutes, the same journey by road can take up to 10 hours, underlining how remote many affected areas are.

Xieng Khouang is one of the most heavily bombed provinces in the country and today accounts for around 30% of all UXO accidents in Laos, the highest rate nationwide.

Meeting MAG in Xieng Khouang

Our visit began at MAG’s headquarters, where we met: Adrien Ngom, Technical Field Manager, Long Ha, Operation Support Officer, Ounheuane Houamsavanthong (Oun), Grants Manager & Mrs Keo representing the Government Ministry for Internal Affairs

MAG opened its programme in 1994, with the establishment of the first internationally supported EO (Explosive Ordnance) clearance operations in Lao PDR. Today, MAG operates in two provinces: Xieng Khouang and Khammouane, with other UXO operators and NGOs carrying out clearance in other affected provinces.

There are 920 MAG staff based in Xieng Khouang, with 915 Lao nationals, demonstrating how locally led the work on the ground is. Community Liaison teams also perform a critical role visiting rural villages and educating children in particular on the dangers of UXO.

Across Laos, MAG has now destroyed over 352,150 unexploded bombs, and delivered close to 5000 risk education sessions helping to reduce the risks and make land safe for farming, housing, schools, and livelihoods.

How UXO Clearance Is Planned and Delivered

MAG’s clearance work takes careful planning. Through technical surveys, teams identify high-risk areas and develop plans in close collaboration with communities and local leaders. Timing is carefully coordinated around farming cycles, seasons, and local needs, with work typically planned on one-year cycles. Teams usually work three weeks on, one week off.  There are currently 52 field teams and 10 community liaison teams working in Xieng Khouang.

It costs approximately $15,000 to run a 13-person field team for one month in Laos, a relatively small sum for work that saves lives and restores land to safe use.

Field Visit: Ban Mon Village

From Phonsavan, we travelled approximately 7km to Ban Mon village, where we met Ta-Mok, leader of Mine Action Team 77.

We received a detailed safety briefing and overview of the clearance process. The level of precision required is extraordinary but necessary. Land is divided into 50m x 50m grids, then halved again. Teams begin scanning with large loop detectors, followed by handheld detectors where signals are found.

Before work begins, detection equipment is tested using a bomb casing buried around 25cm deep, ensuring everything functions perfectly.

The team started work on this site on 4 January 2026. On the day of our visit:

• 12,263m² had been cleared
  

• 15,503m² remained
  

• An incredible 7,000 detections had already been recorded at this site
  

Many detections are false, e.g. scrap metal, but every signal is treated with equal seriousness.

Destroying a BLU-26 Cluster Bomb

One of these detections was a BLU-26 cluster bomb, originally one of hundreds packed into a single B-52 bomb casing. Over 270 million cluster bombs were dropped on Laos during the war, with an estimated 80 million still live in the ground today.

This bomb was found just 20cm below the surface — easily within reach of a farmer’s plough.

We had the privilege of getting hands-on and detonating a controlled explosion to destroy the bomb. The bomb site was contained with sandbags, explosives placed, and a line run to a safe distance.

Before the blast, the MAG team warned the local community using megaphones in both Lao and Hmong languages, and nearby roads were temporarily closed.

With that one controlled explosion, that danger was permanently removed. Once the site is fully clear that will enable 20 people across three households to farm their land safely, without fear, forever.

Why This Matters to YoYo Laos Sauce

Seeing MAG’s work first-hand reinforced why we support them. This is careful, skilled and often dangerous work that changes lives in the most tangible way.

Every day, 15 people are killed or injured by landmines, all too often, it's a child's footstep that triggers the blast. At least 60 million people around the world are affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war, creating fear, hampering development and holding communities back.

At YoYo Laos Sauce, we’re proud that every bottle sold contributes to UXO clearance. This visit strengthened our commitment and reminded us that behind every statistic are real people, real land, and real futures.

To the MAG teams in Laos: thank you for your dedication to saving lives and building futures.

And to all our customers, stockists and supporters: thank you for making this impact possible.