Phnom Penh, March 09, 2020 –The Royal Government of Cambodia has reaffirmed its commitment to clear all landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and cluster bombs from the country.
Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen made the reaffirmation at the inauguration ceremony of National Road No. 55 and the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of National Road No. 10, held in Veal Veng district, Pursat province this morning.
The Cambodian Premier said the area of the construction site of National Road No. 55 is a former hot battlefield during the civil wars where there were a lot of ERW and landmines. He thus reiterated the commitment of the Royal Government for free landmines, ERW and cluster bombs.
According to Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s message on the occasion of the 21st Anniversary of the National Mine Awareness Day (Feb. 24), Cambodia needs more budget to clear landmines, ERW, and cluster bombs.
From 2020 to 2025, a budget of about US$377 million is needed to clear 806 square kilometres of contaminated land area, he underlined.
In the past 28 years in clearing landmines, ERW and cluster bombs, this legacy of war remains a threat for Cambodian people and an obstruction to the development as the casualty rate increased by 33 percent in 2019 compared to the previous year.
From 1992-2019, approximately 1,979,476 square metres have been cleared from landmines, ERW and cluster bombs.
Cambodia has so far detected and destroyed a total of 1,080,814 anti-personal mines, 25,186 anti-tank mines, and 2,832,626 cluster bombs and ERW.
By Khan Sophirom
