The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) requested that Australia continue its support for demining work until the last landmines are destroyed in Cambodia.
Senior Minister and First Vice-President of the CMAA Ly Thuch on September 16 invited Australian Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing Tim Ayres to view the work being done by the landmine detecting rats of APOPO Cambodia at CMAA headquarters in Siem Reap province.
Australia has been involved in the humanitarian mine action sector in Cambodia since 1994, helping to reduce life-threatening accidents and poverty in Cambodia.
“We requested that Australia continue its support for demining work until the last landmines are destroyed in Cambodia even if we do not achieve the mine-free goal by 2025,” the CMAA said in its press release.
APOPO Cambodia has been providing landmine detection training to rats and dogs since 2014 in order to assist with demining work in Cambodia. By 2021, APOPO had demined nearly 10 sq km using detection animals.
The press release said that Tim Ayres hoped that Cambodia would be free from the threat of landmines and might achieve its goal on schedule.
The press release added that Australia is one of Cambodia’s most high-profile development partners in the humanitarian mine action sector. Australia has donated more than AU$100 million since 1994. Australia has supported demining projects since 2006, making the land safe and saving thousands of lives from landmines and explosive remnants of war.