The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) has declared Veal village in Srang commune of Kampong Speu province’s Kong Pisei district to be landmine free.

The celebration of Veal village achieving landmine-free status was held on July 23 with the participation of Hun Many, National Assembly member for Kampong Speu province and the son of the prime minister.

Senior Minister Ly Thuch who is also first vice president of the CMAA said that this was another step towards the goal that the CMAA was trying to achieve of a landmine-free Cambodia by 2025.

Thuch said that this latest achievement will eliminate the dangers caused by landmines for the village and that it effectively contributes to improving the livelihoods of the people living there and the development of the community.

“Starting from 2021 onward, CMAA has had financial support from development partners, the international community, local and international deminers, investors and philanthropists to carry out landmine clearance and continue to end the threat posed by landmines in one village after another and in one province after another,” he said.

However, landmine-free status does not imply that it is free from explosive remnants of war (ERW), such as undetonated bombs or cluster munitions, which may still remain and the general public needs to remain vigilant, the CMAA said.