Royals chip in to aid demining efforts

Dangerous job: A demining personnel carefully unearthing an unexploded ordnance in Banteay Meachey’s Malai district. — The Phnom Penh Post/ANN

King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk have donated a total of US$1.5mil (RM6.684mil) to fund demining work in Cambodia through the Samdech Techo Project for Mine Action (STP-MA).

The fundraising drive, initiated recently by Prime Minister Hun Sen, has reached more than US$20mil (RM89.120mil) in just over three weeks.

In two separate letters to the premier, King Sihamoni and the Queen Mother donated US$500,000 (RM2.228mil) and US$1mil (RM4.456mil) respectively to the government to fund demining efforts throughout the country as part of the renewed push to make Cambodia mine-free by 2025.

“I would like to add to the government’s efforts by donating US$500,000 to help deal with the landmine issue across Cambodia,” read the King’s letter dated July 23 and addressed to Hun Sen.

Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), told The Post that since STP-MA started in early July, more than US$20mil had been donated to the foundation.

Cambodia’s goal, established for some time now, is to clear all of its remaining landmines and achieve landmine-free status by 2025.

Some provinces have already been declared free of landmines – Kep, Prey Veng and Svay Rieng.

Thuch said earlier this month that Tbong Khmum, Takeo and Kampot provinces as well as nine other towns and districts in other locations are on track to be declared mine free in the next six months.

Last week, the CMAA said Preah Sihanouk province will achieve landmine-free status by the end of this month following four months of intensive mine clearing operations. — The Phnom Penh Post/ANN