Cambodia Begins New Japanese-Funded Demining Project Worth Over $11 Million
Cambodia Begins New Japanese-Funded Demining Project Worth Over $11 Million
BATTAMBANG, Cambodia, May 18, 2026 — Cambodia and Japan on Monday launched a new phase of a mine clearance and victim assistance project, as Cambodian officials highlighted decades of progress in removing landmines and unexploded ordnance left from years of conflict.
Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn and Japanese Ambassador Ueno Atsushi presided over the handover ceremony for Phase II of the Project for Integrated Mine Clearance and Landmine Victim Assistance and the commencement of Phase III at the CMAC Morodok Techo Development Center in Battambang Province, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.
Cambodian officials said Japan provided about 2 billion yen, or more than $17 million, for Phase II of the project to support mine and explosive remnants of war clearance operations, rural road construction and assistance for landmine victims in Pursat, Battambang and Pailin provinces.
A new Phase III project, valued at around 1 billion yen, or more than $11 million, will expand activities into Pursat, Battambang and Koh Kong provinces.
Prak Sokhonn expressed gratitude to Japan for its continued support, describing mine clearance as essential for rural development, agriculture and community safety.
According to the statement, Cambodian demining units have cleared more than 3,542 square kilometres of land and destroyed more than 4.5 million anti-personnel mines of various types. The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) alone cleared around 2,136 square kilometres for agricultural and livelihood use.
The deputy prime minister also paid tribute to deminers injured or killed during clearance operations.
Cambodia remains one of the countries most heavily affected by landmines decades after civil conflict and is a signatory to the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines.
Officials said Cambodia has also deployed mine clearance and unexploded ordnance disposal teams to United Nations peacekeeping missions overseas.
The Cambodian government additionally thanked international donors and organizations supporting mine action activities, including Japan, China, the United States, Australia, the European Union, the United Kingdom and several international agencies and NGOs.
