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PM Establishes “Samdech Techo Project for Mine Action” to Boost Mine Clearance in Cambodia

  • Posted Jul 4, 2022 14:56 by Ridhisidh
  • 2056
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PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen, the President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), has decided to establish the “Samdech Techo Project for Mine Action” under the theme “Providing Safe Ground, Creating Smiles,” to receive donations from philanthropists towards mine clearing efforts in Cambodia.

According to the First Deputy Chairman of the Mine Authority, Senior Minister Ly Thuch, the fund was established on Sunday, 3 July 2022, when the Prime Minister called for donations towards mine clearing efforts in Cambodia while delivering a speech on 1 July, National Fish Day, in Trapeang Thmor Reservoir, Banteay Meanchey Province. Demining has so far seen the active support of the Cambodian Red Cross, the private sector and philanthropists who have donated money to the project.

The Senior Minister added that after the contributions were made, the Mine Authority held a series of technical working group meetings to prepare a detailed plan and set demining targets as a priority.

In addition, on Monday, 4 July, Senior Minister Ly Thuch, on behalf of Prime Minister Hun Sen, will chair a meeting with national operators, including the Army Command, the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), and the National Center for Peacekeeping Forces (NPMEC), to allocate demining forces and resources according to the set priority principles, in order to provide security and smiles to the people of Cambodia.

According to the Mine Authority, between 1992 and May 2022, over 2,400 square kilometers of land had been cleared of mines in Cambodia, destroying over 1.1 million anti-personnel mines and over 26,000 mines, and over 3 million munitions and explosive remnants of war. Currently, an area of 1,990 square kilometers, equivalent to 14,121 minefields, still remains to be cleared. During this time period, there were over 65,000 victims of landmines and explosive remnants of war, 52,648 adult men, 4,793 adult women, 6,106 boys and 1,393 girls. Of these victims, 19,818 were killed, 9,077 survived with disabilities, and 36,108 were injured.

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