Cambodia Appeals for International Aid to Clear Thai Cluster Bomb Remnants

Cambodia has called on the international community and development partners with technical expertise to provide urgent resources and assistance to clean up newly identified M-series cluster bomb remnants dropped by Thai forces on Cambodian territory. According to technical research by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), unexploded submunitions—specifically M42, M46, and M85 types—were newly identified within Cambodia. These remnants were left behind following the Thai incursions in July and December 2025. CMAC warned that these M-series cluster submunitions pose an immediate threat to life, capable of detonating at any moment and endangering local villagers and children residing or farming in the affected border areas. Unexploded M-series submunitions from the Thai invasion have already caused 10 Cambodian casualties to date. The Cambodian delegation led by Senior Minister H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action & Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), made the appeal during a side event titled "From Evidence to Action: Advancing Cluster Munition Remnant Survey through Regional Cooperation" at the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, held in Vientiane, Laos, from Sept. 14–18, 2026. By K. Rithy Reak