PHNOM PENH: On Thursday morning the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority celebrated the 23rd anniversary of the "National Mine Awareness Day" in Preah Vihear province, recognizing the importance of mine safety awareness in order to further promote education on the dangers of landmines, cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war in all its forms.
The first deputy head of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, Senior Minister Ly Thuch, said that this was the second time that the Royal Government of Cambodia has selected Preah Vihear province for the location of the official celebrations for this national day since 2016.
According to data collected until now, an area of 143 square kilometers has been cleared of 29,746 anti-personnel mines, 440 anti-tank mines and 82,360 explosive remnants of war. Additionally, 876,275 beneficiaries have received safe land to live on. Demining efforts in Cambodia are, however, not over yet, as around 288 square kilometers of land in the country is still plagued by landmines and explosive remnants of war.
Senior Minister Ly Thuch said that the Royal Government of Cambodia has clear ambitions and has set a clear vision and goal for "a landmine-free Cambodia in 2025".
He also thanked all donors and foreign countries who have joined the Royal Government of Cambodia in providing technical, material and financial support for humanitarian mine action. He further extended his condolences for the recent loss of life of a national defense fighter and three demining heroes in Preah Vihear province, a great tragedy for Cambodia.
Also attending the celebration of National Mine Awareness day, the British Ambassador to Cambodia, Tina Redshaw, said, “I am proud that the United Kingdom continues to be a major donor and supporter of Cambodia's commitment to a mine-free country, and from 2010 to the present, the United Kingdom has provided $ 24 million to Halo Trust, MAG and NP, which supports demining activities in Cambodia, making the UK one of the largest development partners to contribute to mine action in Cambodia."
She added, "By working together, I believe we can achieve a landmine-free Cambodia by 2025.”
In addition, the UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia, Alissar Chaker, praised Cambodia's commitment to demining and the Kingdom's leadership ambitions and its efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for a Mine-Free Cambodia by 2025.
She spoke at the ceremony and said, "While we are working on clearance, we must not forget the other five pillars of mine action: Mine risk education to reduce the risk of injury from landmines and unexploded ordnance, raising public awareness and promoting behavioral change, providing information, education and training campaigns, and community outreach. Mine risk education reduces the risk to a level where people can still live safely and re-creates an environment where economic and social development can occur freely from the barriers of landmine pollution."
The CMAA previously planned to hold a ceremony to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of National Mine Awareness Day in 2021, but because of the 20 February 2021 community event and the outbreak of the Covid-19 disease, the Prime Minister postponed the ceremony.
