Japan cooperates with Cambodia to clear mines in Ukraine

Millions of landmines were laid in Cambodia during nearly three decades of conflict that ended in 1998, killing or injuring tens of thousands of people over the years.

As such, Cambodia is considered a world leader in mine countermeasures and has cooperated with Japan in mine clearance since 1998. "Cambodia is an essential partner in Japan's global mine clearance efforts," Kamikawa said at a press conference.

An area with a mine warning in Ukraine. Photo: AFP

Minister Kamikawa added that Japan will provide Ukraine with a large mine-clearing machine next week and will train Ukrainian agencies in Cambodia on how to use the equipment in August.

Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), told reporters that his organization and local mine action forces were “proud of this important initiative and strongly support the new cooperation strategy.”

Mine deaths are common among civilians and soldiers in Ukraine, which is littered with landmines and unexploded ordnance left behind since the country went into conflict with Russia in February 2022.

Meanwhile, Cambodia remains littered with discarded ammunition and weapons from decades of war that began in the 1960s. About 20,000 people have died since 1979 from unexploded ordnance left in Cambodia, and twice that number have been injured.

In August last year, thousands of pieces of unexploded ordnance left over from the war were unearthed inside a school in northeastern Cambodia.

In 2018, an Australian and a Cambodian were killed when wartime ordnance exploded during a mine clearance exercise in southern Cambodia.

The Cambodian government has pledged to clear all landmines and unexploded ordnance in the country by 2025.

Hoang Anh (according to AFP, CNA)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nhat-ban-hop-tac-voi-campuchia-de-ra-pha-bom-min-o-ukraine-post302511.html