Japan Pledges $11 Million to Support Cambodia’s Journey Toward a Mine-Free Future

• 19 January 2026
• Local News
• 945 Views

New Phase 3 initiative targets Battambang, Pursat, and Koh Kong with advanced AI technology and specialized victim assistance to protect thousands of rural families

Cambodia’s long-standing effort to eliminate the threat of landmines has received a significant international boost following a new $11 million grant from the government of Japan. On January 12, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn and Japanese Ambassador Ueno Atsushi formalized the agreement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Phnom Penh. This funding supports Phase 3 of the Integrated Mine Clearance and Landmine Victim Assistance project, a critical component of Cambodia’s national strategy to become entirely mine-free by the year 2030.

The grant, totaling approximately 1.7 billion Japanese yen, is specifically earmarked for operations within three of the country’s most heavily affected provinces: Battambang, Pursat, and Koh Kong. Over a two-year implementation period ending in early 2028, the project will deploy more than 350 specialized personnel from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre. These teams are tasked with reclaiming contaminated land for safe agricultural use and residential expansion, directly improving the lives of an estimated 27,000 households across the target regions.

This phase of the partnership introduces a modernization of demining techniques, moving beyond traditional methods to incorporate high-tech solutions. The initiative provides for the procurement and deployment of advanced tools, including the Advanced Landmine Imaging System, specialized mine-clearing machinery, and aerial drones. Furthermore, the project will utilize artificial intelligence-based data systems to improve the accuracy and speed of clearance operations, making the process both safer for deminers and more efficient for the government.

Beyond the physical removal of explosives, the Japanese grant also focuses on the human cost of the conflict through integrated victim assistance. This includes small-scale community development projects designed to support the livelihoods of those previously injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance. As Cambodia continues to manage the legacy of past wars, this ongoing collaboration between Phnom Penh and Tokyo serves as a global model for humanitarian mine action and sustainable post-conflict recovery.

In the past, Japan has always provided continuous grant aid to CMAC. (Read more)

• CMAC
• Mine clearance
• UXO