Phnom Penh: The Cambodian Mine Action Centre, CMAC, has confirmed that six Cambodian mine sniffing dogs have been sold to Kenya and South Sudan for demining operations. CMAC Director-General, Mr. Heng Ratana, says that it makes him proud to think that Cambodia is now supplying sniffing dogs for demining projects abroad. He says ion the past, Cambodia used to have to buy mine sniffing dogs from other countries.

Mr. Ratana says that two of the dogs will be sent to Kenya while the four others will be for South Sudan. Kenya is in East Africa while South Sudan is East-Central Africa. He says, "What is the pride of the CMAC dog team here is that the CMAC unit has changed the situation from buying or requesting dogs from abroad to operating in Cambodia to become an international supplier of dogs and supporting domestic operations. This is the achievement of strengthening ownership, both knowledge and skills, strengthening human resources, procedures and technical equipment! Khmer can do it!”.

The Cambodian sniffing dogs were sold for around $3,500 each. Ratana has added that previously, Cambodia used to buy mine sniffing dogs abroad at a cost of $30,000 each. In 2019, Cambodia also supplied four sniffing dogs for demining efforts in Turkey and Sudan.