Cambodia Celebrates 33 Years of Progress in Clearing 3,541 Square Kilometers of Landmines

3 March 2026
Local News
505 Views

Prime Minister Hun Manet Commemorates the 27th National Mine Awareness Day by Emphasizing Safe Land Reclamation for Agriculture and Public Welfare

Over the past 33 years, from 1992 to 2025, Cambodia has successfully cleared and repurposed 3,541 square kilometers of land formerly contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war. This significant achievement was highlighted in a special message from Prime Minister Hun Manet on February 23, 2026, marking the occasion of the 27th National Mine Awareness Day on February 24. Under the theme of Together for All to Ensure Safe Communities and Support for the Displaced, the message underscored the profound impact of demining on the nation’s socioeconomic recovery.

The reclaimed land has been strategically utilized to support various sectors of national development, with 78 percent dedicated to agriculture and 5 percent allocated for essential infrastructure projects. The remaining 17 percent has been used for other vital purposes, including the construction of residential homes, the establishment of new villages, and the development of schools and health centers.

During this extensive three-decade campaign, Cambodian authorities have located and safely destroyed a massive volume of ordnance. The technical teams identified and neutralized 1,207,133 anti-personnel mines and 26,700 anti-tank mines. Additionally, a total of 3,189,371 explosive remnants of war, which include cluster munitions, have been cleared from the Kingdom’s soil, ensuring a safer environment for generations to come.