Phnom Penh (FN), Nov. 17 - In 2019, Japan has aided nearly US$4 million of demining assistance to CMAC, according to Heng Ratana, director-general of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC).

He said that US$3.5 million will be used to support mine clearance operations and more than US$300,000 will be used for development of CMAC in Battambang province after the integrated mine clearance and mine victims projects, (January 1 to December 31, 2019). 2019 is the third year of the project, he added.

Specifically, Japan, the leading donor in mine action, has aided 450 specialized officials and 11 mine clearing machines with the capacity to clear 2,750 hectares of minefields. Japan also helps to dig a rural ponds and roads as parts of community development, according to the director-general.

CMAC has destroyed 2.7 million landmines over the past 20 years, an equivalent to 70 per cent of unexploded ordnances and 53 per cent of minefields.
=FRESH NEWS