Despite the end of the war and then the modern era, the impact of landmines and other Explosive Remnants of War (ERWs) on the lives of civilians still has been devastating in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Innocent individuals have suffered from countless accidents caused by landmines, unexploded ordnances, and abandoned explosive ordnances even though CMAC has made significant efforts to mitigate the harmful effects of these deadly devices.
Ensuring the clearance and release of areas contaminated by landmines/explosive remnants of war (ERW) has been identified as a paramount objective among CMAC's four basic core programs, as outlined in the Royal Decree. Without the diligent pursuit of this objective, the distressing casualty statistics would continue, hampering the use of agricultural land, the country's infrastructure and national development efforts. Moreover, the pervasive and unsettling fear of mine/ERW would continue unabated, undermining CMAC's concerted efforts to alleviate such concerns. CMAC's various demining tools, demining units, and specialized units have proven to be critical components in saving lives and promoting Cambodia's socio-economic progress.
Community-Based Mine Risk Reduction (CBMRR) aims to reduce the number of landmine/UXO casualties in its target areas through strategies that can distribute to risk reduction. This network works to develop the capacity if communities to interact with other mine action components and to ensure that these mine action components are responsive to community requests. Local people in the target areas are mobilized to become focal point for the mine UXO problems in their community through the establishment of mine /UXO committee at village, commune and district level.
Victim assistance, which is a key aspect of Post-Clearance Development, is now conducted by CMAC’s Mine Risk Education teams. CMAC recently launched the Socio-Economic Support to Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Victims (SLV) project, targeting disabled individuals affected by landmines and ERWs in Pursat, Battambang, Pailin, and Banteay Meanchey provinces. Initially piloted in Samlot district, Battambang province, SLV expanded to Koas Krala district in the same province and various districts in Pailin province.
CMAC has long been a proponent of integrating sustainable development activities into its demining operations. Partnering with international NGOs and other international organizations, and private companies, CMAC has established a holistic approach to community and victim support by implementing projects with a strong community development focus after its demining activities. Some projects have its development packages to sustain rehabilitation in the local area, if not CMAC will approach other NGO’s and private companies or individual to provide development assistance.
Development-orientated mine action does not simply clear landmine/UXO but also promotes the development of local communities by enabling them to use the land after clearance has taken place. Furthermore, local empowerment is enhanced by including members of affected communities in the mine action planning process.
