Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) recorded 26 casualties of landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) including 14 deaths, eight amputees and four with injuries in 2023, which is a decrease from the total number of casualties last year.
In 2022, there were 41 casualties, consisting of 23 deaths, 10 injured and eight amputees, according to CMAC’s report in 2023. Between 1979 and 2023, landmines and ERW recorded 7,904 casualties. Up to 1,500 were killed, 4,659 injured, and 1,745 people suffered amputation.
Since 1992, CMAC has cleared 1,735 square kilometers, destroying 3,044,754 UXO, with 1,976 square kilometers left to be cleared.
To support Cambodia’s goal to become mine-free by 2025, Japan approved a grant of over $1.39 million for the clearing of cluster munitions, landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the country.
The Japanese embassy held a grant assistance signing ceremony for the Japanese NGO project to Japanese Mine Action Service (JMAS) last week, which was presided over by Ambassador Atsushi Ueno. JMAS is involved in reconstruction support with cluster munitions in Stung Treng province, and reconstruction support demining in Banteay Meanchey province.
“We hope that the two projects signed today will mitigate the suffering caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance as well as contribute to the government’s goal of a clearance anti-personnel mine by 2025,” Ueno said in the statement.
“I recognize there are still challenges to be addressed in improving people’s quality of life,” he said, adding that the Japanese government would continue cooperating with Japanese international NGOs and support their efforts to resolve these issues.
The JMAS signed an agreement with CMAC on December 22 to implement the two projects of mine clearance.
The Japanese embassy told CamboJA via email on December 22 that their government hopes that Cambodia would become mine-free by 2025.
“With this goal in mind, Japan has been supporting landmine clearance in Cambodia through various schemes,” it said, noting that the Japanese government has provided more than 25 billion Japanese Yen, approximately $176 million, since 1998.
JMAS has been working with CMAC to clear landmines and UXOs safely and efficiently, while helping improve their demining capabilities.
JMAS will clear 470 hectares and 180 hectares of cluster munition, in Sesan district (Stung Treng province) and Malai district (Banteay Meanchey province), respectively. Local residents would be educated to avoid landmine and UXO risks.
In Sesan, JMAS will improve the knowledge and agriculture techniques of local farmers in the supported area, while in Malai, farmers will receive help to improve rice farming techniques.
As members of JMAS are former Japanese Self Defense Forces personnel and possess sufficient demining skills, the embassy believes that they have the expertise to ensure smooth and effective demining.
CMAC director-general Heng Ratana said that JMAS projects have helped to clear mine Cambodia.
“One part of the budget is used to support CMAC’s mine clearance and another is to support JMAS’ work to help integrate landmine victims into the community via road construction and schools,” he said.
Landmine victim, Youen Rorn, 35, who lost his right leg on the way from Thailand when he was crossing the border in Banteay Meanchey in 2019.
“I had walked the wrong way and I stepped on a mine which exploded,” he said. “I can walk but I can’t work hard now, or lift something heavy.” He now works as a worker in a sugarcane plantation in Thailand.
Between 1965 and 1973, Yale University said the US dropped far more ordnance on Cambodia than was previously believed at 2.76 million tons worth, instead of 230,516 tons, on 113,716 sites in Cambodia.
Ly Thuch, first vice president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority could not be reached for comment.
