Japan has pledged to help fund three projects in Cambodia with a grant totalling about $31.9 million.

Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary of State Long Visalo met with Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Yuji Kumamaru yesterday for a signing ceremony to officially award the funding.

One of the projects is the Demining and Mine Victim Rescue Integration Project, which is scheduled to run for three years.

The second program, UXO Community Development, is designed to aid areas affected by mines, Visalo said. Five districts in Battambang have been selected for those projects based on the rate of injuries and deaths from mines and UXO, he said.

“This project will benefit 45,261 families, directly and indirectly,” he added.

The third project will boost the capacity of Phnom Penh’s fleet of public buses.