Cambodia’s Three-Decade Triumph: Over 1,000 Square Kilometres Liberated from Mines

• Sommana Yan
• 5 January 2024
• Local News
• 1549 Views

In a monumental feat spanning over three decades, Cambodia has successfully liberated more than 1,000 square kilometers of land through dedicated demining efforts, as reported by the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) in the Khmer Post on 4 January 2024.

Since its inception, CMAC has meticulously uncovered and neutralized over 3 million landmines and unexploded ordnance, covering an expansive area exceeding 1,735 square kilometers. The breakdown includes 589,962 anti-personnel mines, 11,430 anti-tank mines, and unexploded ordnance, along with 2,440,297 bombs and 126,091 cluster munitions dropped from joint aircraft, as of the latest statistics updated on 3 January 2024.

“This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication of our professional staff, the integration of cutting-edge technologies, and the continuous enhancement of operational standards,” states the CMAC report detailing mine and UXO clearance operations from 1992 to December 2023.

Throughout its evolution, CMAC’s demining capacity has seen a substantial surge. From 1992 to 2004, the average clearance capacity was 12 square kilometers per year, doubling to 22 square kilometers in 2005. Over subsequent years, this capacity has steadily increased, reaching an impressive average of 200 square kilometers per year today.

Beyond the demining endeavors, CMAC has established an extensive network of volunteers in over 3,500 high-priority villages and nearly 4,000 volunteers nationwide. This network is pivotal in educating communities about mine risks and promoting awareness regarding the dangers of war remnants. In 2023 alone, CMAC plans to provide mine risk education to 15,000 individuals in 550,000 households, benefiting a total population of 1,200,000.

The success and expertise of CMAC have not gone unnoticed on the global stage. Countries such as Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Angola, Ukraine, Africa, and Colombia have sought to benefit from Cambodia’s demining experience. Even the Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has extended support to CMAC, facilitating training programs for mine experts across various nations.