Cambodia and Laos on January 9 kicked off a month-long joint demining training session.
The training aims to exchange experience and knowledge between the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO Laos) under the project of South-South Cooperation, with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The first 15 days of the training will be held in Cambodia, followed by another 15 days in Laos. Ten trainees are attending the session, according to Heng Ratana, director-general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), who attended the first day of the training.
Also present at the launch were Saomany Manivong, acting director of UXO Laos, and Hayashi Akihito, an adviser to JICA.
“The purpose of this project is to facilitate cooperation between countries affected by landmines and UXOs of all kinds. We will share knowledge, experience and techniques in solving the problems caused by explosive remnants of war,” said Ratana.
According to CMAC, under the South-South Cooperation Project, the centre has run training sessions to share knowledge and experience with several affected countries – Laos, Colombia, Angola and Iraq.
Ratana said the South-South Cooperation Project has been supported by JICA since 2012. To date, 228 Cambodian and Lao trainees have passed through the programme.
