SIEM REAP: The Government of the People's Republic of China has provided a US $4.4 million grant to the Royal Government of Cambodia to support the demining efforts of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) in 2023, across three provinces: Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Preah Vihear.

On Thursday, 9 March 2023, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the operation to clear mines and explosive remnants of war under the Chinese Mine Action Assistance Project in Cambodia, in Svay Leu district, Siem Reap province, the Director General of CMAC, Heng Ratana, said the Chinese Government had already provided CMAC a total of US $10 million in two phases from 2018 to 2022.

Heng Ratana said these two phases helped CMAC clear a total of 74,922,784 square meters of minefields and discover and destroy a total of 71,558 landmines and unexploded ordnances. This project also contributes to the development of the community, providing safety and improving the lives of a total of 214,661 families.

For the third phase of assistance, the Chinese government has decided to provide grant funding to the Royal Government of Cambodia to support CMAC’s activities in 2023, across three provinces, including Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Preah Vihear, with a loan of US $4.4 million. The first year of the three-year program (2023-2025) features a total budget of US $ 13.2 million to clear the area of landmines and munitions in the above three provinces more than 100 square kilometers.

The assistance project of the People's Republic of China aims to clear all kinds of explosive remnants of war in Cambodia, to not only eliminate the fear and danger of landmines and unexploded ordnance, but also help bring mental peace and promote the economic development of the family and society of Cambodia even more.