Phnom Penh: Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has spoken highly of the achievements the country made so far in mine action and appealed to all stakeholders to contribute more to raising public awareness on the dangers of mines, cluster bombs, and explosive remnants of war (ERW).
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the progress made, noting that mine action is crucial to national economic growth and poverty reduction. He called for intensified efforts to achieve the goal of a Cambodia free from the impact of landmines and ERW to ensure safety and support national development across the country. In his message on the National Mine Awareness Day 2025, themed ‘Together, eliminate the dangers of mines and unexploded ordnance to keep communities safe,’ he highlighted the significant milestones achieved.
From 1992 to 2024, approximately 3,297 square kilometers of mine-contaminated areas have been cleared for use and cultivation, with 81 percent
designated for agriculture, 4 percent for infrastructure, and 15 percent for other purposes such as housing, farms, schools, and health centers. This effort has benefited over 10 million people. During the same period, Cambodia successfully found and destroyed 1,197,218 anti-personnel mines, 26,567 anti-tank mines, and 3,196,704 explosive remnants of war. The number of casualties has seen a dramatic decrease from 4,320 in 1996 to just 49 in 2024.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the contributions of the Samdech Techo Project for Mine Action (STP-MA) in 2022 and the Royal Government’s special fund towards these achievements. Fifteen provinces and the capital, including Stung Treng, Kep, Prey Veng, Phnom Penh, Preah Sihanouk, and others, have been declared mine-free.
Cambodia has also played an active role in global peace and mine clearance activities as a UN member state. Since 2006, the country has deployed 9,824 Cambodian peacekeepers, including 857 women, to participate in peacekeeping missions in countrie
s such as Sudan, South Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Yemen, Chad, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Congo.
As an active State Party to the Ottawa Convention, Cambodia hosted the Third Global Conference on Assistance to the Victims of Anti-Personnel Mine and Other Explosive Ordnance in October 2023, with 45 countries participating. In November 2024, Cambodia chaired and hosted the Fifth Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention, known as the ‘Siem Reap-Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World,’ which saw participation from 983 delegates from over 100 countries and numerous national and international organizations.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to donor countries, development partners, national and international operators, and philanthropists, especially the demining forces, for their active participation in this humanitarian effort. These efforts are considered a priority by the Royal Government to provide safety, promote development, and reduce poverty in Cambodia.
The Royal Government of Cambod
ia has integrated mine and UXO clearance into Goal 9 of the Millennium Development Goals and Goal 18 of Cambodia’s Sustainable Development Goals. The Prime Minister urged donor countries and development partners to continue supporting mine clearance, disaster risk reduction education, and relief efforts for people affected by these threats.