Cambodia

The UN estimated that between four and six million landmines were laid in Cambodia. As records were not kept, the actual number will never be known. What is known is that hundreds of thousands of Cambodians continue to be affected.

The problem

As a result of nearly three decades of conflict, Cambodia remains severely contaminated by landmines, cluster bombs, air dropped bombs and unexploded ordnance (UXO) such as artillery projectiles, mortars and grenades. This mainly affects the poorest and most isolated agricultural communities.

Families and communities in rural Cambodia remain physically endangered – and socially and economically disadvantaged – by contamination from remnants of conflict.

The UN estimated in 1997 that between four and six million landmines were laid in Cambodia. As records were not kept, the actual number will never be known. What is known is that hundreds of thousands of Cambodians continue to be affected.

At least 7,300 casualties from mines and other remnants of conflict were recorded between 1999 and 2008, of a total of more than 60,000 deaths and injuries since 1979 (source: Cambodia Mine/UXO Victim Information System, CMVIS).

How MAG is helping

MAG’s clearance and Mine Risk Education activities helps local populations reclaim ownership of their land and provides them with the knowledge to help reduce accidents in the future.

Areas previously hindered by the presence, or suspected presence, of landmines and UXO can, following MAG's work, be used for population resettlement, the construction of wells, schools and health centres, improvements to roads, and increasing access to plots of agricultural land.

See these pages for detailed information on MAG's latest work in Cambodia:

Your donation to MAG helps us to move into current and former conflict zones to clear the remnants of conflict, enabling recovery and assisting the development of affected populations.

Beneficiaries

In 2009, MAG returned to Phlov Meas, Battambang Province, almost 12 months after two minefields in the village had been cleared. According to the community chief, Vai Chamroeun, more than 90 per cent of his community earn a living by growing corn, sugar cane, beans and sesame. He said that before the clearance took place, few crops were grown.

“Villagers were afraid of mines so they didn’t expand the land for cultivation. Now their lives are getting better. It’s not as hard as it was before. Today, people live in safety.” With support from World Vision [external site], three wells have also been dug and water filters have been given to the village. Plans to dig a pond for the community are also underway. “I feel very happy now and expect that my village will continue to develop."

Find out more

MAG Cambodia in depth
Alertnet country profile: Cambodia [external site]
BBC country profile: Cambodia [external site]
Landmine Monitor: Cambodia [external site]
Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority [external site]

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MAG would like to express its thanks to the following donors to its Cambodia operations: Australian Network to Ban Landmines; CARE International; Church World Service; UK Department for International Development (DFID); Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission; Hind Al Adwani; Imperial Tobacco; Isle of Man Government Overseas Aid Commission; The Embassy of Japan in the
Kingdom of Cambodia; Jersey Overseas Aid Commission; Khaled Al Mashaan; Lutheran World Federation;, Manx Landmine Action; NVESD; The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation; Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State; WorldVision.

October 2009