War Victims Medical Fund
The War Victims Medical Fund (WVMF) was established in 1996 to cover the treatment costs for victims of UXO accidents. There are active WVMFs at the provincial and district hospitals in Houaphan, Xiengkhouang, Khammoun, Savanakhet, Salavan, Champasak and Sekong.
Since 1996, the War Victims Medical Fund has provided over $150,000 in medical support to almost 800 UXO Victims.
Survivor Case Study
On September 1, 2012, Koua Lor (Age 10) and two friends were playing outside his family home in Mone Village, located in the Paek District of Xieng Khouang Province. Unaware that the scrap metal they were throwing around was a bomb, they began hitting it with a stone. The explosion killed Mr. Ye (Age 15) immediately, but the two other boys were rushed to Xieng Khouang Hospital. Youa Yahn (Age 12) broke his right arm and his left knee while Koua sustained injuries to his stomach, arms, left knee and mouth. After two weeks in the hospital, several surgeries and over 3.5M Kip spent out of the family savings, Koua is still recovering. A student in grade 4, he is eager to return to the classroom and join his peers. Through the continued support of the War Victims Medical Fund and World Education, Koua and his family will have access to victim assistance resources and the supportive network of UXO survivors will mediate his transition back to the village.