Battambang: With the efforts of the Royal Government and the cooperation of various organizations and operators in Battambang province, a total area of 46,373 hectares has been clear of landmines. But it is reported that about 11,000 hectares more of land are left to be mined by 2025 in accordance with the National Strategic Plan for Mine Action (2018-2025).
During the speech delivered by the Governor of Battambang Province Sok Loo on Tuesday on the installation of an awareness banner on the dangers of explosives in O'Dar commune, Kamrieng district, people will now be able to use the land. With the development, the economy, agriculture, as well as the livelihood of farmers will prosper, depending on the ability to restore the land lost to landmines more widely and take advantage of those potential areas. Its just a matter of time.
He added that based on the challenges of the demining operations with the cooperation of CMAC, MAG, HALO-trust and operators to clear the whole area of Battambang from 1992 to September 2021, a total of 46,373 hectares were successfully cleared. The experts found 202,145 anti-personnel mines, 3,982 anti-tank mines, 1,133,151 explosive remnants of war and 3,973 artificial mines. The cleared land will be useful, 75 percent for agricultural, 10 percent for housing, 15 percent for physical infrastructure, and will benefit 173,474 families. There still 11,000 hectares of suspected mines throughout the province, which must be resolved by 2025 in accordance with the National Strategic P Plan for Mine Action (2018 -2021).
