Cambodia Reaffirms Goal of Mine-Free Nation by 2050 Vision
Cambodia Reaffirms Goal of Mine-Free Nation by 2050 Vision
PHNOM PENH, Feb 23, 2026 — Cambodia has pledged to intensify efforts to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), including remnants from recent border clashes with Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a message marking National Mine Awareness Day.
In a statement issued for the 27th anniversary of Mine Awareness Day on Feb. 23, Hun Manet said Cambodia remained committed to addressing the impacts of landmines and war explosives under the government’s national development strategy.
The prime minister said Cambodia suffered significant damage in 2025 from border tensions with Thailand, alleging that Thai military forces violated Cambodian sovereignty and used cluster munitions, artillery shells and other explosives that destroyed homes, public infrastructure, schools, health centers, pagodas and ancient temples, forcing tens of thousands of families to flee.
He warned that some unexploded cluster munitions and other ordnance remain scattered in affected areas and pose ongoing risks to civilians. Recent incidents have resulted in deaths and injuries among civilians due to unexploded remnants, he said.
Hun Manet noted that large areas of land remain contaminated by mines and UXO, including newly affected zones along the Cambodia–Thailand border, requiring further survey and clearance.
Despite ongoing challenges, Cambodia has cleared 3,541 square kilometers of land between 1992 and 2025, enabling its use primarily for agriculture (78%), infrastructure (5%) and housing and other development (17%), according to the statement.
Authorities have located and destroyed more than 1.2 million anti-personnel mines, 26,700 anti-tank mines and over 3.24 million pieces of UXO during that period. Annual casualties have fallen sharply from 4,320 in 1996 to 39 in 2025.
Hun Manet said Cambodia remains committed to its goal of becoming a country free from the impact of mines and explosive remnants of war, in line with its national sustainable development agenda and upcoming 2026–2035 national mine action policy.
Cambodia has also played an active role internationally in mine action efforts. In 2024, it hosted and chaired the Fifth Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention, also known as the Siem Reap–Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World.
The government said it would continue strengthening mine clearance operations to ensure safety for displaced communities and support long-term development objectives.
