Prime Minister Hun Sen has extended thanks to the many organisations involved with mine clearance missions in Cambodia for their generous support over the years and requested that they continue to provide additional support in order to make the Kingdom mine-free by 2025.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and great appreciation to donors, development partners and other organisations for their generous financial support as well as their contributions to capacity building in the Cambodian mine action sector,” he said on December 4.

He said the donors are important partners in the maintenance of peace, reduction in mine-related casualties, poverty alleviation and socio-economic rehabilitation.

Hun Sen said that after the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime on January 7, 1979, Cambodians obtained their rights and freedoms. National unity, comprehensive peace, stability and the opportunity to bring prosperity to all sectors was then established by the “win-win” policy in late 1998.

He said the humanitarian demining programme constituted an important part of preserving peace, maintaining stability and furthering development of the nation for its people.

The prime minister added that Cambodia has moved forward with proud accomplishments in the mine action sector and Cambodians and development partners have recognised, supported and celebrated these achievements in gradually freeing Cambodia from the threats of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs).

He also thanked the talented and experienced national and international demining operators and particularly the deminers who have participated in high-risk demining activities with the government to clear landmines and ERWs for the safety of people, thereby providing the security necessary for development that has been reducing poverty in Cambodia.

He appealed to the donors, development partners and other organisations – as well as the private sector – to continue providing support by cooperating and partnering with the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) to help Cambodia achieve its mine-free goal.

“Together we began this job and together we will finish this job and establish a mine-free Cambodia by 2025,” he said.

The CMAA on December 4 organised a ‘Friends of Mine Action Golf Tournament’ to thank donors and development partners for their demining support.

Ly Thuch, senior minister and CMAA first vice-president, said nearly 65,000 people have been killed, had to undergo amputations or suffered other serious injuries due to landmines and ERWs in Cambodia.

“Please allow me to once again express our appreciation and gratitude for your compassion, for your generosity and your contributions to save lives, reduce causalities, assist landmine victims and improve the livelihoods of our people,” he said.

The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) plans to clear all of the ERW from 125sq km next year to advance the years-long clean-up effort another step closer to its scheduled completion in 2025.

The centre held a board meeting on December 1 to review their progress in the past 10 months and make plans for 2022.