Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) first vice-president Ly Thuch has issued instructions on strengthening mine and explosive hazard prevention amid flooding.
Landslides caused by recent flooding have unearthed a number of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), including anti-personnel mines, anti-tank mines and explosive remnants of war.
Thuch advised all provincial mine action committees to strengthen measures to prevent dangers.
“All operators and institutions must cooperate to regularly keep track of areas frequented by people.
“We must regularly inform people to be very careful about the dangers of mines and explosive remnants of war and to report to local authorities, village chiefs, commune chiefs or demining operators when they see them,” he said.
Thuch said it is up to the government to produce educational materials to reduce risk and work with community volunteer network and teachers in the flood-affected areas.
There were 55 victims of UXO in the first nine months of this year, 16 of them died, according to a CMAA report released October 1.
The report said 14 people were injured by anti-personnel mines, nine from landmines and 32 from explosive remnants of war.
That figure is a decrease of 17 per cent from the same period last year when there were 66 victims.
The provinces most affected are Battambang, Pursat, Preah Vihear, Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Thom, Kratie, Pailin, Tbong Khmum, Oddar Meanchey, Mondolkiri, Stung Treng and Kandal.
