Up to now, more than US$15.6 million and almost 191 million Riel (Cambodian currency roughly US$47,000) have been raised from charitable people to contribute to realising Cambodia’s goal of becoming a mine-free nation by 2025.

“This is a big national movement toward the zero landmine by 2025,” wrote the Premier in a Facebook post this afternoon.

The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) has opened accounts at the ABA, ACLEDA and Canadia Banks to facilitate the people’s contribution.

“I hope our compatriots both inside the country and overseas will continue to participate in the campaign towards the end of the tragedy on our land by 2025,” Samdech Techo Hun Sen added.

At a get-together here this morning with the Cambodian delegation who will leave for the ASEAN Para Games in Indonesia, Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen said that Cambodia will mobilise national funds to end landmine and UXO issues in the country as planned in 2025.

Cambodia needs to clear over 700 square kilometres of landmine-contaminated areas and more than 1,000 square kilometres of explosive remnants of war (ERW) to achieve its target of a mine-free country by 2025.

From 1996 to 2021, Cambodia was able to release roughly 2,379 square kilometres of landmine/ERW contaminated land for productive purposes such as agriculture, resettlement, roads, schools, and other social infrastructure.

On this land, over 1.1 million anti-personnel mines, more than 26,000 anti-tank mines, and nearly 3 million ERW including cluster munitions were found and destroyed, benefiting almost 7.5 million people, but more than 1 million others still live in fear and work in areas contaminated by landmines and ERW.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press