Preah Sihanouk province will reach landmine-free status by the end of this month, according to the Preah Sihanouk provincial administration.
According to administration officials, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) deminers cleared 1,737,013sqm or 173ha of Preah Sihanouk province and found 34 landmines and 93 pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO).
The above figures were provided on July 22 during a meeting between CMAC officials and Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun.
Chamroeun noted during the meeting that the mission was accomplished with financial support from China and he expressed his gratitude for their assistance.
Preah Sihanouk provincial administration said that to clear the area a total of 36 deminers were divided into five groups who began their operations on March 1 and are now set to completely clear the province of landmines by the end of July.
The provincial administration said that the deminers had gone through significant hardship in addition to the usual dangers of their profession because most of the minefields were located in remote and mountainous areas away from any roads that required them to hike for many kilometres through the wilderness to reach the affected areas.
Chamroeun thanked all of the officials as well as the armed forces who were involved in making this effort succeed in just four months.
“The areas that have been cleared of landmines and UXOs will see an upgrade in their socio-economic status and standard of living. This will ease the fears of all visitors to those areas including hikers and campers, as well as investors in the province, and it will increase the number of jobs available for our youth.
“Demining missions contribute to the improvement of the livelihoods of our people and to the Kingdom’s socio-economic conditions,” Chamroeun said.
