Ly Thuch, senior minister and first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), said that 7 out of 13 communes in Kampong Speu province’s Phnom Sruoch district will be cleared of landmines in November. CMAA
Ly Thuch, senior minister and first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) said the vision of a landmine-free Cambodia by 2025 could be achieved if the general public joined the government to make it possible.
Thuch made the remarks on August 12 while accepting a $10,000 donation from SOMA Group to the Samdech Techo Foundation.
“A Cambodia free of landmines by 2025 is possible if all of us participate,” he said, thanking SOMA Group for its donation, which he said would contribute to sustainable development through demining activities.
Cham Kransa, CEO of Soma Group, said that his company decided to make the donation following calls from Prime Minister Hun Sen.
She said she expected the landmine free vision will be achieved as per the plan.
Separately, the CMAA said that 7 out of 13 communes in Kampong Speu province’s Phnom Sruoch district will be cleared of landmines in November under the prime minister’s “Providing Safe Ground, Creating Smiles” project.
CMAA and the army began clearing mines in the seven communes early this month and the project is expected to last until November, a four-month span. The action will cover 6.55sq km in Chambak, Kraing Deivay, Maha Saing, O’Prey Romduol, Taing Samrong, and Taing Sya. There are 64 minefields to be cleared.
Thuch said Kampong Speu has a total of 406 mine fields, covering a total of 45,657,491sq m. The province is expected to be completely cleared by 2023.
Phno Sruoch is the most heavily mined district in the province, with 69 per cent of the province’s mined affected land. There are 235 mine fields in the district, covering 31,502sq m.
