AKP Phnom Penh, November 20, 2025 --

Four States Parties to the Ottawa Convention – Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and Luxembourg – and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have been committed to supporting Cambodia’s humanitarian mine action efforts, specifically the country’s crucial Phase 4 mine clearance programme.

The remarks were delivered by H.E. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), during a field mission on Nov. 20, to inspect the implementation of the UNDP-supported “Clearing for Results” programme in Kors Krolor district, Battambang province. The programme is currently concluding Phase 4 (2020-2025) and moving into Phase 5 (2026-2030).

The delegation included representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia, Battambang provincial leader and various local authorities and beneficiary communities.

Speaking on behalf of the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia, Senior Minister Ly Thuch expressed profound gratitude for the generous and sustained support from the UNDP and the partner countries.

He stressed that the assistance reflects strong global solidarity and a shared humanitarian commitment to addressing the persistent impact of landmines.

H.E. Ly Thuch called upon development partners, mine action operators, and all relevant stakeholders to continue backing the Royal Government’s vision, led by Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, to achieve a mine-free Cambodia by 2030.

“Mine action is not only about clearing and destroying landmines,” he stated. “It is also about improving livelihoods, reducing risks, restoring dignity, and enabling communities to rebuild their futures.”

The "Clearing for Results" programme, launched in 2006, has been instrumental in Cambodia's progress: The programme has cleared 418 square kilometres of mine-contaminated land, accounting for 16 percent of Cambodia's total cleared area. It has directly benefited 1.3 million people across the country.

Under the current Phase 4 alone, over 174 square kilometres of land had been cleared as of September 2025, benefiting more than 341,000 people

By K. Rithy Reak