New Zealand Tops Up Demining Aid
Cambodia is one of the countries which has suffered most from mines and unexploded ordnances resulting from war and internal conflicts from the mid-1960s until 1998. Photo: CMAC
- By Ou Sokmean
- December 7, 2023 8:11 PM
PHNOM PENH – New Zealand has given Cambodia an additional $3.1 million to implement the fourth phase of demining projects.
The grant was signed between the resident representative of UNDP Cambodia Alissar Chaker and New Zealand Ambassador Jonathan Kings.
Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authorities (CMAA) presided over the Dec. 6 meeting.
According to Ly Thuch’s Facebook account, authorities are planning to clear the remaining landmines in Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces.
So far, 13 provinces are mine-free. These are Stung Treng, Kep, Prey Veng, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Tboung Khmum, Kampong Cham, Svay Rieng, Kampong Chhnang, Kandal, Takeo, Kampot and Kampong Speu.
Jonathan Kings expressed his admiration for Cambodia Mine Action for its endeavors in assisting victims and gender mainstreaming in mine action.
He said achieving this collective goal required high cooperation. Although Cambodia’s achievements are notable, it still has a long way to achieve its mine-free target by 2025.
Cambodia received an original $3.8 million from New Zealand to implement the fourth phase of demining projects from 2021.
Cambodia is one of the countries which has suffered most from mines and unexploded ordnances resulting from war and internal conflicts from the mid-1960s until 1998.
Between four and six million landmines and other weapons were left over from the conflicts.
Yale University reports that the US dropped 230,516 bombs on 113,716 locations in Cambodia between 1965 and 1973.
On August 14, over 2,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance from the conflicts were found by CMAC experts on a school campus in the northeastern Kratie province.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Rin Ousa for Cambodianess.
