US Funds $5 Million Mine Clearance Program in Cambodia
US Funds $5 Million Mine Clearance Program in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 5, 2026 — The United States has committed $5 million to support landmine and cluster munition clearance operations in Cambodia, as part of an 18-month humanitarian program aimed at reducing the deadly legacy of unexploded ordnance along the country’s border areas.
The funding agreement was signed on Thursday between Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) under a project titled “Saving Lives and Advancing the Elimination of War Remnants in Cambodia.”
The ceremony was witnessed by a representative of the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia, according to CMAC.
Under the project, which runs from February 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027, CMAC will receive $4 million, while NPA will receive $1 million, officials said. The initiative will support nearly 300 Cambodian demining specialists deployed across two operational units in Tboung Khmum and Oddar Meanchey provinces.
CMAC said the project will focus on clearing landmines, cluster bomblets and other unexploded ordnance, restoring safe access to land for affected communities, improving livelihoods and supporting economic recovery in contaminated areas.
The funding comes amid lingering contamination from renewed fighting along the Cambodia–Thailand border in 2025, which Cambodian authorities say left more than 441,000 hectares of land hazardous across 340 villages in seven provinces, affecting over 364,000 people.
Oddar Meanchey province remains a priority area, with more than 40,000 hectares of suspected contaminated land, CMAC said.
In addition to financial support, the United States is also providing technical equipment and capacity-building assistance to strengthen Cambodia’s mine-action capabilities.
CMAC Director-General Heng Ratana thanked Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet for backing the project and expressed appreciation to the U.S. government and NPA for continued support of mine clearance and development efforts in Cambodia.
