Manual demining refers to demining tasks in which deminers use their mine detector machines to detect landmines, UXOs, or other suspected objects under the ground and most recently under the water. If detected, deminers will carefully unearth to remove those landmines, UXOs, or objects by their hands.
Since its inception in June 1992, CMAC’s clearance productivities averaged around 12 km2 per year, and this rate nearly doubled to 22 km2 in 2005 by virtue of the arrival and implementation of mechanical demining and has further increased in subsequent years to approximately 40 km2 per year until 2009. Thus, it was evident that the use of mechanical demining could speed up the work of manual deminers and make it safer, thereby significantly accelerating the clearance outputs.
CMAC, in cooperation and partnership with donors and development partners, has brought mine detection animals to be integrated with its existing manual demining teams so as to accelerate the efficiency and productivities in Cambodia. So far, CMAC categorizes its mine detection animals into two types: Mine Detection Dog (MDD) and Mine Detection Rat
Since its inception in June 1992, CMAC’s clearance productivities averaged around 12 km2 per year, and this rate nearly doubled to 22 km2 in 2005 by virtue of the arrival and implementation of mechanical demining and has further increased in subsequent years to approximately 40 km2 per year until 2009. Thus, it was evident that the use of mechanical demining could speed up the work of manual deminers and make it safer, thereby significantly accelerating the clearance outputs.
Mine Detection Rat (MDR) is a new animal demining tool for CMAC’s clearance operations. The rats are native to the United Republic of Tanzania, an East African country bordering the Indian Ocean. There were 15 MDRs arriving in Cambodia at the very first time on 27 April 2015, and more MDRs arrived in subsequent years.
As of December 2023, CMAC, in partnership with APOPO, deployed 42 rats and integrated them into 3 Mine Detection Rat Teams (MDR-10 staff) to conduct clearance in Preah Vihear (DU6) and Siem Reap (DU4). The three MDR teams thus released a total of 16,165,676 m2 by having found and removed 667 landmines, 592 UXOs, and 60 cluster submunitions. The clearance achievements made by MDR teams have been beneficial to 3,834 families, equating to 14,967 people.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) is the action taken to eliminate a known explosive hazard. And the EOD capability can be found within many clearance assets. However, EOD as a capability refers to the disposal of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) that has been found by other mine action capabilities such as Battle Area Clearance (BAC) or Demining. EOD can also respond to civilian request from those who have identified the presence of an explosive item. destroyed in-situ, or they can be made safe to transport using other techniques.
Development Demining Unit (DDU) is situated in Mong Barang Village, Sangkat B'er, Krong Kampong Chhnang, which shares a venue with the Technical Institution of Mine Action (TIMA). It was established with the aim of providing support for development projects across Cambodia. Their teams are dedicated to responding to the needs of various stakeholders, including the Royal Government, non- governmental organizations (NGOs), and private entities. The dedicated staff members of DDU have played a crucial role in identifying and eliminating dangerous ordnances, ensuring the safety of communities.
The establishment of the Special Unit of Underwater Operations (SUUO) by the CMAC in 2013 marked a significant milestone in enhancing the safety and security of the country's waterways. With pivotal technical support from the US Government during its initial training phase, SUUO developed robust capacity and expertise. Subsequently, the unit was entrusted by the Royal Government of Cambodia with the critical responsibility of executing intricate underwater clearance operations, encompassing the retrieval of underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO) and abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO), searches and clearances of sunken barges, bridges, and piers, evidence collection, stranded vessel retrieval, downed aircraft recovery, damaged structure and body recovery, and personal rescue missions.
The Explosive Harvesting Program (EHP) was established since 01 March 2005 under CMAC-Golden West cooperation. The program, financially and technically supported by the US through Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, has been aimed at collecting all types of UXOs from all CMAC Demining Units, Demining NGOs, and communities as well as defective bombs in the Royal Cambodia Armed Forces’ warehouse and National Police’s warehouse to be recycled into new explosives for using to explode any landmines or UXOs that cannot be unearthed or transported to safe places.
| Item | Expected Amounts Used in Cambodia | Amounts Destroyed |
|---|---|---|
| Land Mine | 4-6 million |
602,289 items by CMAC 603,415 items by other operators |
|
Bomb Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Abandoned Ordnance (AXO) |
4,038,365 t |
2,444,961 items by MAC 660,632 items by other operators |
| Item | Expected Remaining Contaminated Areas in Cambodia | Cleared Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Land Mine | Approx. 1,204 km |
1,746 km by CMAC 1,278 km by other operators |
|
Bomb Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Abandoned Ordnance (AXO) |
Approx. 652 km |
As of Dec. 2023
