All around Laos, there are unexploded bombs left over from the Vietnam War.

Most of the bombs are 'bombies', a small, spherical and very dangerous bomb which comes from a cluster bomb which was dropped along the Ho Min Chin trail, especially around Laos, during the Vietnam War.

The issue is that these unexploded bombs are prone to reactivation at any moment, with just the slightest amount of pressure.

To make the problem worse, most of these bombs are in jungles or in the ground, meaning that it would be very easy for someone to step on one in the forest or detonate one when digging up ground.

There are numerous initiatives and programmes which exist to help get rid of all these bombs, but here lies the problem. In Laos, there is a large market for scrap metal, and one 'bombie' would sell for a lot of money, giving people, and especially children, the incentive to pick up the bombs and try to sell it.

As mentioned previously, there are programs out there to help disarm and deactivate these bombs. These range from foreign service workers traveling to Laos to help with the problem to programs which aim to help create a local bomb-defusal squad in the village.

Children and Adults are beings educated more about these bombs, their dangers and what do do if they see them, to help make sure that they are prepared in case they come upon one.

In Africa, there is a lot of service work happening, where public workers from the UN or NGOs come in and help build houses or set up computers.

But what if all this Aid is not helping? Some people re saying that all the aid being given to Africa is not helping as much as it's failing.

Microfincaning - Small loans/donations which can be given to those of low income.

The problem is that aid is curing the symptoms of poverty and such and not the causes. They're building houses and donating computers, helping people get out of poverty, but not fixing what is actually causing poverty

Another problem is that Africa is relying too heavily on Aid. It can't support itself the Aid ever runs out. It needs to establish a firm, concrete support on which it can start evolving from.

I personally think that the bomb crisis is a real health and safety issue and should be taken care of as fast as possible. Any Aid possible would be good and training and education about bombs would also be very helpful. If possible, those who find bombs should be rewarded as an incentive not to try and trade the bombs for money, which is a big issue as those trying to handle the bombs without exprience will most likley blowt hemselves up

I personally feel that while the Aid Africa is getting is undoubtedly helpful, Africa is relying on it too much, using the Aid like a crutch, Africa should be given the opportunity to be able to survive on its own without the help of outside forces., The best way is microfinancing, which will give Africans the money to start surviving on their own.