KhmerTimes-Sept 24, 2026
The European Union has approved a €1.6 million (about $1.8 million) grant to support mine-clearance activities in Cambodia, with the project expected to clear approximately 6,000 hectares of affected land in partnership with the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and APOPO. The funding was announced during a meeting between CMAC Director-General Heng Ratana and an EU delegation led by Foreign Policy Instruments team head Andreas Roettger at the Techo Peace Museum in Siem Reap province on Tuesday. During the meeting, Ratana briefed the delegation on the impacts of explosive remnants of war, particularly the threats they pose to public safety, socioeconomic development and cultural heritage. The officials also toured the museum, where historical materials and photographs document the destruction caused by past conflicts.
Roettger confirmed that the 18-month project will commence in October 2026 across Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces. “This funding will enable the clearance of over 6,000 hectares of affected land, provide mine risk education and support technical survey dogs to speed up demining operations,” Roettger said. According to CMAC, armed clashes in 2025 directly impacted 349 villages across seven provinces. Surveys completed by late July 2026 identified 5,409 polygons spanning over 386,880 hectares, with more than 295,000 hectares contaminated by cluster munitions and heavy artillery.
Clearing these munitions remains a long-term challenge requiring substantial international collaboration.
“Cambodia may require approximately one billion US dollars and at least more than 10 years to clear the cluster munitions that Thailand fired into Cambodia,” Ratana said. Read more at:
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/502029395/eu-approves-1-8m-cambodia-mine-grant/
