A 26-year-old man was taken to hospital yesterday after two anti-tank mines – remnants of the civil war – exploded while he was farming in Battambang province’s Sampov Loun district.

District police chief Pich Saren said the victim, Lach Lim, drove a tractor over the mines, injuring his right hand and breaking the tractor in half.

He said the explosion was the first in the district.

Separately, Germany yesterday announced a commitment of almost $1.5 million for demining programs in Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey provinces.

The funds will go to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), which last year cleared 3,686 mines and destroyed more than 23,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance over 450 hectares in those two provinces.

The new money is expected to enable CMAC to clear an additional 920 hectares, benefitting some 6,000 households.

According to the Cambodian Mine Victim Information System, 43 people were killed by landmines last year.

 

To contact the reporter on this story: Lieng Sarith at [email protected]