Prime Minister Hun Sen requested that Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth consider including expenses for landmine clearance in the national budget for 2023-2024 in order to achieve the goal of a landmine-free Cambodia by 2025.

Speaking at a ceremony for National Fish Day on July 1 held at Ang Trapeang Thmor in Banteay Meanchey province’s Phnom Srok district, the prime minister said that funding to clear Cambodia’s remaining landmines must be included in the national budget for some areas of the Kingdom.

“For some places, just $50,000 is required, but we still need to request it from foreign donors. Now we should include funding in our national budget in order to finish mine clearance in some places that are almost landmine free and can be dealt with by deminers from CMAC and other operators,” he said, referring to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre.

He also appealed to the private sector to contribute to landmine clearance efforts in order to maintain the safety of the people and ensure that Cambodia is a landmine-free country by 2025.

Ly Sary, Banteay Meanchey deputy provincial governor, said on June 29 that in the first six months of this year his province had discovered around 500 pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO). In the last five years, he said, six people were killed and 13 were injured by UXO explosions.

“In the first six months of this year, Banteay Meanchey has cleared 56 mine fields covering 3,535,321 square metres by removing 270 anti-personnel landmines, four anti-tank mines and 227 other remnants of war,” Sary said.