H.E. Heng Ratana, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Director General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), and Mr. Michael Raine, Programme Manager of the Anti-Personnel Mines Demining Product Development Cambodia (APOPO), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a project integrating mine detection rats and technical detection dogs, valued at $281,490.35. The signing ceremony took place on December 4, 2025, at the CMAC Headquarters in Phnom Penh.

The one-year project, running from January 1 to December 31, 2026, aims to clear 7,560,000 square meters of land. Operations will be conducted by the Demining Unit 4 in Siem Reap and the Demining Unit 4 in Preah Vihear province. With this funding, CMAC will deploy both mine detection dogs and rats to priority areas identified in the Integrated Workplan 2026. Speaking at the ceremony, H.E. Ratana emphasized the strong and long-standing cooperation between CMAC and APOPO. He affirmed that both sides will continue working together on training, testing, and implementing the integration of mine detection rats and technical survey dogs in line with international quality standards.

“In the context of this new commitment, we aim to improve mine action management and expand support to affected communities, especially in Preah Vihear province,” he said. H.E. Ratana expressed confidence that enhanced collaboration with APOPO will lead to faster and more accurate mine detection and clearance. Mr. Raine reaffirmed APOPO’s commitment to supporting Cambodia’s mine action sector, noting that the organization is ready to provide expertise, scientific research, operational capacity, and specialized detection equipment to help Cambodia reach its national goal of becoming a mine-free country.

He expressed gratitude to CMAC for its steadfast partnership, to donors for their trust and generosity, and to field workers who risk their lives daily to keep communities safe. In addition to their cooperation within Cambodia, CMAC and APOPO have expanded international partnerships by sending CMAC mine detection dogs to Turkey and several Central African countries. CMAC experts have also been deployed to these countries to train technical detection dog units, while unexploded ordnance specialists from those nations have come to Cambodia for mine clearance training through APOPO.

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