Phnom Penh (FN), Jan. 13 – The Government of Ukraine has decided to send its deminers to receive demining training from Cambodia, according to the press release of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) seen by Fresh News on Friday (Jan 13).

The CMAC, in cooperation with the Government of Japan, will organize a training course to Ukrainian deminers in the field of humanitarian mine action.

According to the press release, considering a huge impact of landmines, UXOs and ERWs on the soil of Ukraine, which is causing civilian casualties and is becoming obstacle for those residents wanting to return to their home, clearance of mines and UXOs is a humanitarian issue, which requires urgent action for the safety of the people, as well as restoration of urban function and agriculture land. Moreover, clearance efforts require persistence and patience as it takes long time for people to feel safe and to restore livelihood.

Cambodia went through decades of wars, which scattered millions of landmines and UXOs throughout the country. Seeing that the Royal Government of Cambodia views cooperation in the field of humanitarian mine action important for supporting Ukraine and its people, based on experience of the successful mine action programme since 1992, the press release added.

The training is the outcome of a joint commitment between Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen and Japanese prime minister Kishida Fumio during a bilateral meeting on the occasion of the ASEAN Summit 2022.

Following the two leaders’ statement on their commitment, CMAC is going to provide training to State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) on a Japan made mine detection device, ALIS (Advanced Landmine Imaging System). Since ALIS is already introduced and operationalized by CMAC, CMAC is going to provide the initial operational training of ALIS in Cambodia in January, 2023.

About 15 Ukrainian deminers will begin a week-long demining training in mid-January 2023 at CMAC's Mine Action Technical Institute in Kampong Chhnang and visit demining sites in Battambang and Siem Reap.
=FRESH NEWS