Chinese Government provides $2.5 million grant to support the second phase of demining project in Cambodia in 2020 (Linked to Record ID#62690)

On December 26, 2019, Heng Ratana, director-general of Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), said the Chinese Government agreed to provide a $2.5 million grant to CMAC support the “China-Aided Cambodia Landmines Elimination Project.” The project was expected to run from January to December 2020 -- with support from 300 experts -- in the north and north-east provinces as well as other parts of Cambodia, where the contamination of landmines, Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), and cluster munitions remains high.

With this assistance, CMAC expected to be able to release/clear 17,823,000 m2 of mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) contaminated areas in the provinces of Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Kampong Chhnang, and Kratie, where 119,438 families will be benefited directly and indirectly from the project.

The Kingdom of Cambodia hopes to become mine-free by 2025.

By the conclusion of the project, CMAC had successfully cleared over 1,708 hectares of landmines contaminated areas, found and destroyed 9,238 landmines and UXOs.

The Chinese government previously donated $2.5 million to the first phase of this demining project, which ran from May 2018 to February 2019 (as captured via Record ID#62690).