Introduction
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.
All clearance undertaken by MAG in Cambodia is for development purposes, supporting the National Landmines Action Plan. MAG’s operations provide a vital stepping-stone for the work of non-governmental organisations and other development organisations by creating a living and working environment safe from the threat of landmines and UXO, allowing previously affected communities to benefit from wider humanitarian and development projects.
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MAG Cambodia employees are recruited from the most vulnerable households and trained in the core skills of demining. Top: A female technician heads to the rest area in Au Chukram village, Battambang. One third of MAG's staff in Cambodia is female. |
Partnerships and coordination
Long-standing collaborativerelationships with the Lutheran World Federation, Church World Service, World Vision and CARE International [external sites] have ensured the implementation of development activities in areas previously hindered by the presence, or suspected presence of landmines and UXO; clearing land for resettlement and the construction of wells, school sites, health centres, road access and access to plots of agricultural land.
This approach not only maximises the impact of MAG’s work, and that of our donor funding, but also ensures that MAG supports and contributes to the wider socio-economic development of the country and the achievement of Cambodia’s Millennium Development Goals.
The programme has maintained a strong relationship with the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority [external site] and assisted with the development of a coordinated approach to update and revise the contamination map in Cambodia, ensuring better targeting of resources.
A baseline survey of the 21 most heavily mine contaminated districts is underway and is expected to be completed by late 2010. MAG has already deployed two baseline survey teams, funded by the US Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement [external site], into two of these 21 districts, working alongside other accredited clearance operators.
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Ten per cent of MAG's demining staff are amputees. Employment postively influences discrimination in Cambodian society. |
Technology
The programme’s Research and Development section continues to carry out successful evaluations of new technology throughout the year. Evaluation of the Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System (HSTAMIDS) dual sensor detector advanced, with three teams now entering the next stage of operation.
Additionally, evaluations of the Tempest Mk 6 vegetation cutter and the Maxx+ (remote controlled mini-excavator) continued, with an evaluation of the Badger (manned armoured medium excavator) planned to start in November 2009.
Beneficiaries
Families and communities in rural Cambodia remain physically endangered and socially and economically disadvantaged by contamination. More that 40 per cent of the population reportedly continue to live alongside remnants of conflict.
The Cambodia Mine/UXO Victim Information System (CMVIS) shows that from January 2006 until June 2009, 1,223 men, women and children were reported as casualties of landmines and UXO. MAG’s clearance activities and Mine Risk Education helps local populations reclaim ownership of their land and provides them with livelihood skills to help reduce accidents in the future.
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
