Landmines in Cambodia
Encyclopedia
Cambodia
is a country in located South East Asia, bordered by the Gulf of Thailand
, between Thailand
, Vietnam
, and Laos
. It has a population of almost 15 million and its GDP per capita in PPP terms was $2,000 which ranked 188th (out of 229) countries. A major problem that Cambodia faces is the issue of landmines littered all over the country, especially in the rural areas. This is the legacy of three decades of war which had taken a severe toll on the Cambodians; where some 40,000 amputees reside, which is one of the highest rates in the world. The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) estimates that there may be as many as four to six million mines and unexploded ordnances in Cambodia.
A 2004 Cambodia Socio Economic Survey (CSES) noted that households headed by someone with one or more reported disabilities have significantly less wealth than other households. Furthermore, it has been estimated that households headed by a person disabled by war or landmines live in poverty at levels almost three times higher than if the disability was due to other causes.
CMAA estimates that the combined cost for demining operations, including technical assistance and in kind contributions for Cambodia are approximately $30 million per year. Experts also estimate that Cambodia will need another 10 to 20 years to clear the mines if the current level of funding is maintained.
Cambodian Self Help Demining
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
is a country in located South East Asia, bordered by the Gulf of Thailand
Gulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand , also known in to Malays as Teluk Siam literally meant Gulf of Siam, is a shallow arm of the South China Sea.-Geography:...
, between Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
. It has a population of almost 15 million and its GDP per capita in PPP terms was $2,000 which ranked 188th (out of 229) countries. A major problem that Cambodia faces is the issue of landmines littered all over the country, especially in the rural areas. This is the legacy of three decades of war which had taken a severe toll on the Cambodians; where some 40,000 amputees reside, which is one of the highest rates in the world. The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) estimates that there may be as many as four to six million mines and unexploded ordnances in Cambodia.
Casualty Rates
Casualty statistics by Cambodian Mine Victim Information Service (CMVIS) shows that Cambodia ranks as one of the highest casualty rates in the world. The number of casualties from 2000 to 2005 was about 850 per year, declining to about 450 in 2006. The figure dropped to about 350 in 2007 and about 270 in 2008. It is noted that one-third of the casualties are children, and almost all of those are boys, with studies showing that men and boys tend to be more willing to play with or examine explosives than women are.Socio-Economic Effects
The National Level One Survey in Cambodia conducted in 2002 found that 20% (2776 out of 13908) of all villages in Cambodia are still contaminated by minefields and/or cluster bomb areas with reported adverse socio-economic impacts on the community. These adverse impacts included restrictions on access to agricultural land, pasture land, forests, and water resources, with 102,778, 105,707, 172,878 and 84,588 families being affected respectively.A 2004 Cambodia Socio Economic Survey (CSES) noted that households headed by someone with one or more reported disabilities have significantly less wealth than other households. Furthermore, it has been estimated that households headed by a person disabled by war or landmines live in poverty at levels almost three times higher than if the disability was due to other causes.
Current Efforts
The Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA) was established in late 2000. The CMAA regulates and coordinates all mine action activities, and establishes policies and procedures. Currently, there are four (main) demining organizations working in Cambodia - The Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), The HALO Trust, and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG).CMAA estimates that the combined cost for demining operations, including technical assistance and in kind contributions for Cambodia are approximately $30 million per year. Experts also estimate that Cambodia will need another 10 to 20 years to clear the mines if the current level of funding is maintained.
Useful Links
Aki RaAki Ra
Aki Ra is a former Khmer Rouge conscripted child soldier who works as a deminer and museum curator in Siem Reap, Cambodia.Aki Ra is unsure of his age, but believes he was born in 1970. His parents were killed by the Khmer Rouge...
Cambodian Self Help Demining