Decades of War Leave Cambodia Littered with Landmines and Death
A Cambodian Villager’s Tragic Fate
A Cambodian villager was killed on Friday after he drove a truck loaded with cassava over an anti-tank landmine on his farm in northwestern Battambang province. According to Heng Ratana, director general of the government’s Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), the villager “ran over an anti-tank landmine, the remnant of war.”
Decades of Conflict Leave a Lasting Legacy
Cambodia remains littered with discarded ammunition and arms from decades of war starting in the 1960s. The US bombed swathes of Cambodia during the Vietnam War, a campaign that helped fuel the rise of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. During the nearly three decades of conflict that followed, millions of landmines were laid in Cambodia with tens of thousands of people killed or maimed over the years.
Deaths and Injuries Still Common
Deaths from mines and unexploded ordinances are still common, with around 20,000 fatalities since 1979, and twice that number wounded. More than 1,600 square km (620 square miles) of contaminated land still needs to be cleared, which leaves approximately a million Cambodians affected by war remnants.
Extending the Goal
Cambodia, which previously aimed to be mine-free by 2025, has extended the goal by five years. Heng Ratana told AFP on Friday that the country will continue to work towards clearing the remaining contaminated land and making it safe for communities to live and work.
Conclusion
The story of the Cambodian villager who lost his life to an anti-tank landmine is just one of many tragic tales that highlight the ongoing impact of decades of war in Cambodia. While progress has been made in clearing contaminated land, there is still much work to be done to make Cambodia a safe and peaceful place for all its citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many landmines were laid in Cambodia during the war?
A: Millions of landmines were laid in Cambodia during the war.
Q: How many people have been killed or injured by landmines since 1979?
A: Around 20,000 people have been killed, and twice that number wounded.
Q: How much land still needs to be cleared?
A: More than 1,600 square km (620 square miles) of contaminated land still needs to be cleared.
Q: When did Cambodia aim to be mine-free?
A: Cambodia previously aimed to be mine-free by 2025, but has extended the goal by five years.