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Laos has the dubious distinction of being the most bombarded country on the planet. From 1964 to 1973, it was subjected to over half a million bombing sorties. That averages about one every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for 9 years - over 2 million tons of ordnance fell. Cluster munitions, when they land, open and disperse smaller bombs, like those pictured here. They're particularly dangerous because they have a high failure rate - they don't explode, yet they remain live. And these "bombies", as they're known here, look cute and innocent , so children finding them in a field, pick them up thinking they're toys. There are still lots of UXO casualties every year throughout Laos. |