India, Cambodia Ink Deal for Pursat Demining Project

India and Cambodia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to implement a Quick Impact Project (QIP) supporting humanitarian mine clearance across 163,207 square metres of contaminated land in Mol village, Rokat commune, Phnom Kravanh district, Pursat province. The MoU was signed on July 27 by Senior Minister Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), and Indian ambassador Vanlalvawna Bawitlung. Under India’s QIP framework, the initiative will contribute to Cambodia’s national mine action programme by clearing land contaminated by anti-personnel mines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs) in Mol village. The project is expected to directly benefit around 1,403 people, or 369 households, by restoring land for safe agricultural production, housing construction and community development. It also includes explosive ordnance risk education to raise public awareness and improve safety among local communities. Ambassador Bawitlung highlighted the long-standing and growing cooperation between India and Cambodia in humanitarian mine action. “Humanitarian mine clearance is not only about removing hidden dangers from the land, but also about creating opportunities for sustainable development, improving livelihoods and ensuring a safer and more prosperous future for local communities,” he said. Thuch expressed gratitude to the government and people of India for their enduring partnership in the Kingdom’s mine action sector. He noted that through India’s “India for Humanity” initiative, hundreds of Cambodian landmine survivors have regained mobility, independence and opportunities to rebuild productive lives. India has been a long-term partner in Cambodia’s humanitarian mine clearance efforts. Under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation QIP framework, India and the CMAA have already completed four successful mine clearance projects. The first project cleared four villages in Koh Kong province, benefiting more than 7,000 residents. A second project in Koh Pao village, also in Koh Kong, cleared approximately 197,810 square metres of contaminated land, benefiting more than 3,300 households. Another, currently underway in Preah Andoung village, Pursat province, is progressing well and is expected to clear around 200,000 square metres of land, directly benefiting approximately 1,000 people. India has consistently supported Cambodia’s mine action programme since the early 1990s through technical assistance, capacity building, mine clearance equipment, mine detection dogs, assistance for landmine survivors and grant funding for humanitarian demining projects. During the 2022 visit of the Vice President of India to Cambodia, India announced additional assistance to support humanitarian mine clearance in Botum Sakor, Srae Ambel, Thma Bang districts and Trapeang Rung commune in Koh Kong province. Botum Sakor, Srae Ambel and Trapeang Rung have since been declared mine-free, while Thma Bang is expected to achieve mine-free status in the near future, marking another significant milestone in the two countries’ joint efforts toward a mine-free future. “Every hectare of land cleared through our cooperation with India brings Cambodia one step closer to becoming a country free from the impact of landmines, where no community has to live under the threat of mines and explosive remnants of war,” noted Thuch.