PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced that as of 1 December 2022, Cambodia has collected over US $18.4 million for the national Demining Fund. Moreover, the Prime Minister announced that he has decided an additional US $30 million should be added to the fund.

Prime Minister Hun Sen made a post on his official Facebook page writing, "Dear compatriots! $18,473,570 collected from the Royal gift of the King and Queen Mother and from philanthropists for the demining fund will be spent by the morning of 1 December 2022. To ensure that Cambodia is landmine-free by 2025, I discussed with Minister Aun Porn Moniroth the matter of immediately releasing [an additional] $30 million of the Royal Government to the Demining Fund, under the management of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.”

The Prime Minister added that this demining budget, together with the budget of development partners, can continue to be used in 2023. In case of a potential shortage, and for the subsequent years of 2024 and 2025, the national Mine Authority must work with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to prepare an annual budget. The Prime Minister further called on donors and philanthropists to continue supporting demining much as possible to help Cambodia reach its goal of becoming mine-free by 2025.

"Let 2025 be a year of no casualties and a year of smiles after 55 years of landmines (1970-2025)," he wrote.