PHNOM PENH: The Japanese government has agreed to provide Cambodia with an additional ¥1.7 billion (approximately US$11 million) in grants to support the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) through Phase III of the Integrated Mine Clearance and Victim Assistance Project.
The new funding follows the completion of Phase II of the project at the end of 2025, which had a total budget of almost $17 million.
A May 18 handover ceremony for the achievements of Phase II was held at the CMAC Techo Heritage Development Centre in Battambang province, under the presidency of Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Japanese ambassador to Cambodia Ueno Atsushi, alongside several senior officials.
CMAC director-general Heng Ratana explained that the Japanese government had provided a total of ¥2 billion — nearly US$17 million — for Phase II of the project, which ran for 45 months from April 1, 2022, to Dec 31, 2025.
The project was implemented in Battambang Pursat and Pailin provinces, achieving results that included the clearance of 12,011 hectares of mine- and explosive-contaminated land — equivalent to 127 per cent of the original target.
During the project, teams located and destroyed 27,847 landmines and unexploded ordnance items of various types, while mine-risk education was delivered through 12,582 sessions attended by a total of 343,209 people.
Ratana added that 763,602 people benefited from Phase II through the construction of 9.8 kilometres of laterite roads and 29 water drainage structures. The project also procured mine-clearance equipment including 12 ALIS mine-detection machines, one Komatsu mine-clearing machine, one trailer truck and spare parts.
CMAC director-general Heng Ratana explains various types of landmines, unexploded ordnance and detection equipment used in clearance operations. CMAC
Regarding the newly launched Phase III project, inaugurated on May 18, Heng
Ratana noted that Phase III will run until January 2028.
The new phase will support CMAC in clearing 4,939 hectares of mine- and explosive-contaminated land in Pursat, Battambang and Koh Kong provinces, while also responding to emergency clearance requests in Pailin.
In addition, the project will assist mine victims, support post-clearance community development, procure additional ALIS mine-detection machines and establish an artificial intelligence data system.
Ratana expressed his gratitude to the Japanese government and people for providing both equipment and funding to support CMAC’s demining operations in Cambodia, as well as to the Cambodian government, for its continued backing of the organisation.
He also thanked the development partners and donors who have contributed to the government’s strategic plan aimed at achieving “a Cambodia free from the threat of anti-personnel mines by the end of 2030 and reducing the threat posed by explosive remnants of war by 2035”.
Sokhonn praised all stakeholders and also paid tribute to each of the deminers who were injured or lost their lives during mine-clearance operations.
“In its capacity as one of the countries most severely affected by landmines in the world, and as a State Party to the Ottawa Convention, Cambodia remains firmly committed to fulfilling all obligations and the spirit of the convention,” he said.
“Cambodia is also proud to have deployed demining and unexploded ordnance clearance forces to participate in UN peacekeeping missions,” he added.
The deputy prime minister also thanked other donor partners supporting mine-action activities in Cambodia, including China, the US, Australia, Belgium, Canada, the EU, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the UK.
Partner organisations mentioned included UN Development Programme, Norwegian People’s Aid, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan Mine Action Service, APOPO, Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, Japan International Cooperation System, Japan Crown Agents Japan Limited, Komatsu and Nikken Corporation. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
