AKP Phnom Penh, February 06, 2025 -- 

The Government of the People’s Republic of China has decided to provide a grant assistance of US$4.4 million to the Royal Government of Cambodia to support the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC)’s mine clearance operations.

According to CMAC, this funding falls under the "China-Aided Cambodia Landmine Elimination Project" and will support demining operations in seven provinces: Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, and Kratie, as well as strengthen the CMAC’s Dog Training Centre in Kampong Chhnang province.

Under the grant assistance, which lasts 12 months (Mar. 1, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026), more than 400 CMAC technical experts will engage in four key activities: 1. Clearing more than 3,400 hectares of landmines/UXO-contaminated areas, 2. Surveying landmine, UXO, and cluster munition contamination in the target provinces, 3. Enhancing the capabilities of the CMAC Dog Training Centre, and 4. Strengthening community awareness on mine risk education and victim assistance programmes.

This marks the third year of the third phase (March 2023 – February 2026) of China's grant assistance for mine clearance in Cambodia, with a total budget of US$13.2 million.

From 2018 to 2024, CMAC has cleared 15,060 hectares of land, detected and destroyed 82,844 landmines and UXOs, responded to 6,668 emergency demining requests, and provided mine risk education to over 1.86 million people.

The continued support from the Chinese government highlights its commitment to humanitarian mine clearance in Cambodia, improving safety, and fostering sustainable development in affected communities, underlined CMAC.

By Phal Sophanith