The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) and Vallon GmbH – a German mine detector manufacturer – on April 25 co-hosted the opening day of the first regional-level workshop on finding effective solutions to locating landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) and to get a clearer understanding of the latest mine and UXO detection technology, in order to contribute to improvement of mine action operations.
The workshop runs from April 25-27 in Siem Reap province with the participation of experts and relevant staff from the mine action community, along with demining operators, NGOs, state agencies and international partner organisations.
The CMAA said the workshop aimed to bring together these experts to get a clearer understanding of the latest mine and UXO detection technology to improve mine action operations and to provide strategies to accelerate Cambodia’s mine-free 2025 goal.
“We are proud to host this historic workshop with Vallon GmbH and bring together key stakeholders in the mine action community in Cambodia and from ASEAN,” said CMAA first vice-president Ly Thuch.
He added that the use of advanced technology in mine and UXO detection operations had played an important role in achieving the Cambodian government’s mine-free vision by 2025.
“At present, technology has become an effective tool in the fight against landmines and UXO, as well as locating and identifying landmines and UXO more effectively and accurately and saving time and money,” he said.
CMAA first vice-president Ly Thuch regarded Vallon GmbH as one of the most important partners in demining work in Cambodia and one of the leading companies in the world in the production and development of advanced technology in mine detection operations and UXO linked to humanitarian action.
Markus Vallon, managing director of Vallon GmbH, demonstrated its commitment to joining Cambodia in locating landmines and UXO through the use of its advanced technology to achieve the Kingdom’s mine-free goal 2025.
“We have produced highly effective and safe mine detectors and made many improvements from our experience in Cambodia in modernising the technology. The company has now included the Khmer language in this device to make it easier for Cambodian deminers to use,” he said.
Vallon GmbH is one of the world’s leading companies in the production and servicing of modernised equipment for mine and UXO clearance. The company is now fulfilling missions in more than 50 countries in cooperation with the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and HALO Trust, including missions in Thailand, Vietnam and with the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) in Cambodia.
