POLAND: In a show of international cooperation, Cambodia and Japan teamed up to help Ukraine with mine detection during a training session in Poland last week.

According to a press release from the Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh on July 11, the training was held from July 3-7 in Poland and was a continuation of a training program held in Cambodia earlier this year. The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) conducted sessions to provide the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) with training on equipment used in mine detection. The equipment used was developed in Japan and donated as part of Japan’s ongoing support of CMAC.

According to Human Rights Watch, Ukraine is severely contaminated with landmines from the armed conflict that began in 2014. Use of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) has greatly intensified with Russia’s full scale-invasion beginning in February of last year. Landmines have been documented in 11 of Ukraine’s 27 regions.

Last week, US President Joe Biden confirmed his intent to send cluster bombs as part of a military aid package to Ukraine, furthering the risk of civilian casualties by unexploded weapons for decades to come.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio made a joint commitment on humanitarian mine action in Ukraine during the 2022 ASEAN Summits last November. Japan has pledged to continue its support of CMAC’s efforts, especially on the international stage.