WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States is still financing the disposal of bombs, landmines and ammunition that it used across Southeast Asia more than 40 years ago, a US Department of State report released on Monday revealed.
"Since 1975, at least 105,023 casualties have been reported in Vietnam," the global overview report "To Walk the Earth in safety" acknowledged. "In 2013, there were 50 reported landmine and UXO [un-exploded ordnance] casualties, a significant decrease from the 73 reported in 2012."
However, with no nationwide data collection mechanism, the total number of landmine and UXO casualties in Vietnam cannot be ascertained, the report acknowledged.
"The most UXO-devastated provinces are in the central region and along the former demilitarized zone, including Ha Tinh, Quang Bihn, Quang Nam and Quang Tri," the report explained.
From fiscal year 1993 to fiscal year 2014, the United States spent $81 million in Vietnam for the safe disposal of un-exploded ordnance, the report stated.
Consequently, the report added, "Cambodia has more than 40,000 amputees and one of the highest amputee ratios in the world, with one per 290 people."
During the 1993-2014 time period, the US government spent $106 million to remove and safely dispose of landmines and un-exploded ordnance, provide mine risk education to at-risk populations, and support survivor assistance programs and their families, according to the report.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the report also observed, Laos became the world’s most heavily bombed country per capita.
"The extent of contamination that remains in Laos has not been documented and no national landmine/UXO survey has been conducted," it said.
From fiscal year 1995 through fiscal year 2014, the United States spent $84 million in Laos in mine-clearing activities.
