Siem Reap (FN), July 6 – Japan provided $11 million aid in the form of technical supplies to support the 7th phase mine clearance and unexploded ordinances.

The handover ceremony was conducted in Siem Reap province, presided over by Defense Minister, Tea Banh and Horinouchi Hidehisa, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia. Both also inaugurated the “Mine Action Peace Museum”.

Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), reported that the handover ceremony of the technical assistance include 9 heavy demining machineries, 88 vehicles, 788 mine searching engines, 450 safety jackets and a large number of spare parts.

He added that in more than 25 years, CMAC and international demining organizations have cleared more than 1,400 square kilometers of landmine areas; and destroyed nearly 4 million unexploded ordnances in Cambodia. According to the mine authority’s evaluation, 2,000 square kilometers of landmine still remains.

Horinouchi Hidehisa reiterated that Japanese government recognizes that mine clearance is vital to the safety of people and farmers who are living and working around the minefields and that economic growth can only be achieved through rural development.

Since 1998, the Japanese government has actively supported mine action in Cambodia, particularly in Battambang province.

The ambassador added that the aid will further promote Cambodia’s capacity in mine clearance. Through this aid, Cambodia-Japan diplomacy will closely bonded.
=FRESH NEWS