Cambodian is still suffering from landmines and Explosive Remnants of
War (ERW), said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in his message on the
occasion of the National Mine Awareness Day (February 24).
Mines and ERW are still a main obstacle for Cambodia’s
reconstruction and development, therefore the Cambodian government has
regarded this issue as the ninth Cambodian Millennium Development Goal,
Hun Sen was quoted by the Cambodian News Agency AKP as saying on
February 22.
According to the leader, his country
has cleared over 900 square kilometres from mines and ERW with the
support from international communities, local authorities and
development partners. As a result, the number of victims was reduced
from over 4,000 in 1996 to 185 in 2012.
However,
mines and ERW are still a major challenge for the Cambodian people,
especially those living in the most affected areas, estimated at about
1,700 square kilometres, he noted.-VNA