The deadly legacy of landmines

More than two decades since the adoption of the landmark Mine Ban Treaty and the creation of the UN Mine Action Service, millions of landmines have been destroyed, but land in nearly 70 countries globally is still contaminated and innocent Read More …

Cambodia: UXO casualties down 56 per cent, say CMAA

Since the beginning of January, eleven people were injured and one killed by land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). According to a March 27 report from the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA), this represents a 56 per cent reduction on Read More …

Cambodia: Takeo now ‘mine-free’

Takeo province was officially declared “mine-free” in a March 21 ceremony attended by Ly Thuch, senior minister and first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), making it the 11th first-order administrative division to be cleared Read More …

Cambodia: Kandal joins growing list of mine-free jurisdictions

Deputy Prime Minister Aun Pornmoniroth reiterated that the clearance of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) remains indispensable work, as he declared Kandal another mine-free province on March 13. Kandal now joins Phnom Penh and eight provinces – Stung Read More …

Cambodia: Anti-tank mine among than 200 units of ERW’s and ammunitions cleared from village in Kratie province

The Mine clearing unit of the National Center for the Management of Peacekeeping Forces and Demining (NPMEC) are hard at work in clearing mines in Thnal village, Svay Chres commune, Snuol district, Kratie province. During the course of the clearing Read More …

Afghanistan’s demining program needs $18.3 million – OCHA

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Afghanistan has one of the highest levels of explosive ordnance contamination globally. The statement tweeted on Monday saying that in 2023, some $18.3 million is needed for Read More …

Cambodia: Preah Sihanouk province officially declared landmine-free

Preah Sihanouk province was officially declared landmine free on February 24, making it the sixth province to be declared free of landmines. Authorities are committed to clearing 12 more provinces of landmines by the end of the year. The ceremony Read More …

Cambodian PM says over 10 mln people benefit from clean-up of landmine, ERW contaminated land

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Thursday that some 10.03 million people, or 62.6 percent of the kingdom’s population, have benefited from the clean-up of landmine and explosive remnant of war (ERW) contaminated land in the last Read More …

Cambodia: German president observes mine clearance in Siem Reap

German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender on Feb 14 touched down in Siem Reap province, where they observed mine clearance activities and pledged to help Cambodia achieve its mine-free 2025 goal. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Read More …

Cambodia: China donated $13.2 million for demining

In contributing to attain the goal of Cambodia mine-free by 2025, China has donated $13.2 million for demining in vulnerable areas to bring peace and happiness to Cambodian people. The donation came during the official visit of Prime Minister Hun Read More …

Japan contributes to UN Mine Action Service for humanitarian mine action and peacebuilding in Sudan

The Government of Japan has contributed USD 980,000 to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), a component of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), to advance Sudan’s peacebuilding efforts through humanitarian mine action. Aiming to Read More …

Cambodia: CMAC embarks on demining efforts in five provinces

The Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) has deployed several groups of demining personnel to five provinces to embark on a new mine clearing effort. CMAC Director General Heng Ratana said recently “Mine-free Cambodia 2025” aims to demine a total of Read More …

Cambodia, Japan provide tech training for Ukrainian deminers

Japan’s foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said his government will continue contributing to the reconstruction of Ukraine through demining cooperation with Cambodia and other countries. Hayashi made the remarks as the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) held a January 20 closing Read More …

Denmark supports explosive hazards management activities in Iraq

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq welcomed a contribution of 14 million DKK (over two million USD) from the Danish government, which will assist the Iraqi government to reduce the threat of explosive ordnance impacting civilians and Read More …

Over 9 million people benefit from Cambodia’s clean-up of landmine-contaminated land

Cambodia has cleared roughly 2,554 square kilometers of landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) contaminated land in the last 30 years, benefiting more than 9 million people, a senior official said on Monday. Ly Thuch, first vice president of Read More …

Cambodia: Over 61,400 landmines and UXOs destroyed by CMAC in 2022

Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) destroyed 61,477 landmines and UXOs in 2022. The update was shared on January 11 by Heng Ratana, Director General of CMAC, highlighting that the move has freed additional 194 square kilometres of land from landmines Read More …

Thailand: Demining officer killed, another injured in blast near Thai-Cambodian border

A member of the Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) was killed and another injured in a landmine explosion, as they led a team of forest rangers on a patrol in Phnom Dong Rek Wildlife Sanctuary near the Thai-Cambodian border yesterday Read More …

Australia contributes significantly to Cambodia’s demining

Australia is one of the longest-standing supporters of mine clearance action in Cambodia, contributing essentially to Cambodian government’s goal to reach mine-free status by 2025. The appreciation was voiced by Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Read More …

Thornhill landmine clearing charity receives Scottish Government backing for Ukraine work

A Thornhill-based landmine clearing charity has been given Scottish Government funding to continue its work in Ukraine. The Halo Trust is working in the war-torn country to remove explosives left behind by Russia’s invasion and has been handed £300,000 from Read More …