Phnom Penh, 15 September 2022 (TDI): UN Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Wignaraja toured the sites demined by the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC). She appreciated the collective efforts of UNDP and CMAA, and their progress so far.
H.E. @thuch_ly, 1st Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action & Victim Assistance Authority #CMAA, stressed the importance of #Cambodia–@UNDP partnership in #MineAction to achieve the RGC’s goal of a #MineFreeCambodia in 2025. @KanniWignaraja @ACRundp https://t.co/fQGMJ2Z4ug
— UNDP Cambodia (@UNDPCambodia) September 15, 2022
She visited the Koas Krala district, known for having the most significant degree of mine pollution in Battambang province.
Wignaraja visited the locations and spoke with local officials and residents. The purpose was to know the effects of the demining activities on the communities living in mine-affected areas.
Decontaminating and demining
In the country, KOICA reported 570 casualties from landmines and explosive remnants of war by June 2022.
Nevertheless, as of June 2022, the authorities have cleared landmines and explosive remnants of war from 2,500 square kilometres of the area. According to KOICA, the communities will be able to use the decontaminated land once the explosives are removed.
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The first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), Ly Thuch, emphasised the value of Cambodia’s relationship with UNDP. He expressed hope for reaching the country’s mine-free goal by 2025.
Furthermore, he claimed that the demining projects have successfully cleared more than 300 square kilometres of suspected mines since 2006. It accounts for more than 12% of the country’s total mine clearance.
He further added, “The Demining Project has also contributed to providing safe land for farming and house building to more than 1.1 million Cambodians, 50% of whom are women.”
For almost 30 years, KOICA has funded several projects in this area in Cambodia. KOICA has been working in collaboration with the CMAA and UNDP Cambodia for demining.
Despite this, the authorities say that decontamination of the area requires much more effort. Nearly 2,000 square kilometres of area in Cambodia still need to be cleansed of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
@UNDP
@UNDPCambodia
@thuch_ly
@KanniWignaraja
@ACRundp
#Cambodia #CMAA #MineAction #MineFreeCambodia
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