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In the rural areas of Cambodia, a real scourge continues to eat away at the lives of the inhabitants: landmines. A tragic legacy of past conflicts, these explosive devices threaten the lives of thousands of people daily. Today, with the freezing of American aid, mine clearance operations are considerably hampered, thus increasing the accident risks and victims among the most vulnerable populations. This alarming context calls for desperately needed international awareness to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in these already fragile communities.
In Cambodia, rural areas continue to be the scene of tragedies caused by antipersonnel mines which dot the territory, a bitter legacy of decades of conflict. While mine clearance efforts, essential to the safety of villagers, are disrupted by the freezing of American aid, the risks for vulnerable populations continue to increase. The scale of this problem, combined with budget cuts, creates an alarming situation that threatens the lives of thousands of Cambodians.
The scourge of mines in Cambodia
THE mines, unactivated explosives and other abandoned munitions, represent an ever-present danger for residents of rural Cambodia. Many rurally dispersed villages, ranging from the province of Svay Rieng to neighboring areas, are affected by this scourge. These deadly devices continue to injure and kill, with victims often being innocent children. For example, on February 5, an eleven-year-old boy, Yeat Saly, detonated a shell while playing, thus testifying to this tragic reality.
The statistics are overwhelming: since 1979, Cambodia has counted more than 65,000 victims related to mining, including 20,000 deaths. This data shows how urgent the need for mine clearance is to ensure the safety of local populations.
The consequences of freezing American aid
The United States has long played a leading role in financing mine clearance operations in Cambodia. However, the freezing of American aid came to interrupt this dynamic, jeopardizing projects crucial to the safety of villagers. This hard blow comes while the agency USAID is being dismantled, a decision contested by many organizations and experts.
It is estimated that this freeze disrupts missions by nearly 1,000 deminers who work in the field. Every day, thousands of Cambodians are at increased risk, while more than 1,600 km² of territory to sweep to eliminate explosive threats.
Poignant testimonies
The tragic stories of those living among the mines illustrate the urgency of the situation. Chea Sokha, 38, bears the scars of an explosion when he was a child. Today he fears for his own children while he cultivates his rice field, suspecting the presence of explosives buried in the ground. “Before, we were not afraid, we used animals to plow. Now, with our modern machines, it has become risky,” he laments.
A 2030 demining objective in danger
Although demining operations have significantly reduced the number of victims – 858 in 2000 compared to 32 in 2023 – the initial objective of eliminating all mines by 2025 has already been pushed back to 2030. This reassessment illustrates the growing challenges facing the country, exacerbated by the financial uncertainties linked to the absence of aid.
To compensate for American cuts, China has promised to invest $4.4 million in demining, but it represents less than half of what was allocated by Washington. Keo Sarath, director of the Cambodian Mine Action Center, warns: “Freezing aid will increase the number of accidents. There remains a lot of unexploded ordnance in the territory.”
Daily fear
In Banteay Kraing, a 59-year-old villager expresses her anxiety about the presence of a rusty shell discovered near her house. Despite the police tape marking it, she is afraid that children will approach it. This dark picture of daily reality, illustrating helplessness in the face of a persistent threat, is a worrying reflection of the future if the situation does not change quickly.
Tourists often admire Cambodia’s cultural and natural riches without realizing that behind its beauty lie deadly dangers. The country needs increased global attention to counter this scourge while providing hope to communities through robust and sustainable aid funds.
FAQ on mines in Cambodia and the impact of the US aid freeze
Q: How does the freeze on US aid affect mine clearance operations in Cambodia? Mine clearance operations have been significantly slowed, endangering the lives of many rural residents, who continue to be threatened by explosives left over from decades of conflict.
Q: What is the impact of landmines on children in Cambodia? Children often put themselves at risk by playing near ancient battlefields, as evidenced by the incident with Yeat Saly, an eleven-year-old boy who was injured while handling a shell.
Q: What are the consequences of mines on the Cambodian population? Mines have caused more than 65,000 victims since 1979, including 20,000 dead, and continue to cause injuries, significantly impacting rural families and communities.
Q: What actions has Cambodia taken to address the mine problem? Cambodia has implemented a national mine action strategy, aiming to decontaminate all affected areas by 2030.
Q: How does the freezing of American aid influence the future of mine clearance? Freezing aid could lead to more accidents, because many areas still remain contaminated, and the financial resources needed for mine clearance are scarce.
Q: What is China’s contribution to the cessation of American aid? China has promised to pay $4.4 million to support demining operations, but this sum does not represent half of the funds that the United States provided each year.