NPA Germany Grants US$2.1m to Clear 1,600 ha of Landmines in Three Cambodian Provinces

• 5 August 2023
• Local News
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Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) Germany has bestowed a transformative grant of US$2.1 million upon the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC). This significant grant, officially announced by CMAC on 3 August 2023, stands poised to pave the way for a groundbreaking demining initiative spanning three provinces and covering a vast expanse of 1,600 hectares.

The impetus behind this exceptional partnership lies in the urgency to liberate Cambodian soil from the shackles of landmines, ensuring the safety and prosperity of communities across Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, and Preah Vihear provinces. With an overarching vision of fostering a mine-free Cambodia by 2025, this collaborative effort aligns seamlessly with the tenets of the National Strategic Plan for Mine Action, charting a definitive course toward a safer and more secure future.

The US$2.1 million grant, spanning 16 months of dedicated effort, is poised to catalyse an extensive demining endeavour that shall culminate by the close of August 2024. This concerted initiative is not only geared towards reclaiming approximately 1,600 hectares of mine-ridden landscapes but also fostering heightened awareness about the perils posed by remnants of war. In an all-encompassing approach, the project also extends its compassionate arm to extend support to victims of these insidious weapons.

Highlighting the gravity of this collaboration, CMAC underscores the transformative potential of this grant to alleviate the spectre of landmines that has long cast a shadow on Cambodia’s development trajectory. The initiative resonates deeply with the nation’s core aspirations for growth, security, and progress.

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