LocationsRemarks by Ms. Alissar Chaker, Resident Representative, UNDP Cambodia
His Excellency Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First-Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (Representing the Honourable Prime Minister of Cambodia and President of CMAA),
His Excellency Oum Reatrey, Governor of Banteay Meanchey Province,
Excellencies Ambassadors and representatives from diplomatic missions, and the ARMAC
Colleagues, distinguished guests, honorable senior citizens, teachers, students and friends of the media.
It is with great humility that I join you today to commemorate the 26th anniversary of National Mine Awareness Day. As we come together, I would like us to start by paying tribute to the bravery and great work Cambodian deminers are doing at home and abroad and to honor the memory of the fallen heroes and victims.
Cambodia has achieved much, as demonstrated by the increasing number of provinces declared mine-free and the drastic reduction in casualties. This achievement is the result of national leadership and the collaborative work of many stakeholders, including CMAA, the operators and their valiant deminers, national and subnational entities, and development partners. Nonetheless, the mine action sector should not rest on its laurels since the enduring challenges posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) persist in parts of the kingdom.
Excellencies and distinguished guests.
UNDP is proud to have steadily accompanied the government on this raucous journey since 1992. The focus of work progressively expanded from removing landmines from the ground to raising people's awareness of dangers, helping victims become self-sufficient and active members of their communities, and providing opportunities for stability and sustainable development. Since 2006, the Clearing for Results project has released 384 square kilometres of safe land, amounting to over 12% of the sector's achievement. It benefitted over 1.2 million people, half of whom are women and girls.
Allow me to pause here. Let us all reflect on the latest victims, two-year-old children at Svay Leu in Siem Reap.
Excellencies and distinguished guests.
In addition to land clearance and release, and landmine risk education, seven physical rehabilitation centers in Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kratie, Phnom Penh, Prey Veng, Siem Reap, and Takeo have been receiving technical and financial support to provide standard-quality rehabilitation services, assistive devices, and other support to landmine victims and persons with disabilities. This is complemented by livelihood training for survivors and their households to ensure a life of dignity and self-dependence for them. Since 2020, the centres served 32,685 persons with disabilities, including 7,489 women. 4,850 of the patients were mine/ERW survivors.
UNDP is currently assisting CMAA in developing the National Mine Action Policy 2026-35. This policy will guide coordinated efforts, resource alignment, and the positive impacts of mine action on affected communities and the Kingdom’s development. Counting on CMAA’s vision and access facilitation, I invite us all to make every effort to accelerate the release of all ‘known’ contaminated areas and lay the foundations for addressing potential residual threats.
Excellencies and distinguished guests.
Cambodia still has at least 1,500 square kilometers of contaminated land, of which 348 square kilometers are contaminated by landmines. This continues to pose a safety and security threat to Cambodians and prevent local socio-economic development. It is estimated that the country would need more than 100 million US dollars to release the remaining 348 square kilometers of mine-contaminated land.
This year’s theme, "United for Safer Communities," is a powerful call for action to complete the unfinished task and renew our commitment to a Cambodia free from the impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development and where the needs of victims are met with dignity.
Excellencies and distinguished guests.
On this National Mine Awareness Day, I reaffirm UNDP’s commitment to eradicate the scourge of landmines and explosive remnants of war in Cambodia and assist those who have been or are in harm's way. I also take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to our partners, namely Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and UNDP core donors. My most profound respect also goes to His Excellency Dr. Ly Thuch for his vision and dynamic leadership and to the CMAA team for their hard work and commitment. We value our long-standing partnership immensely and look forward to celebrating- against all odds- a mine-free Cambodia soon.
I will end by paying my respects to the deminers from all the operators and the UN Blue Helmets.
Thank you!
Som Orkun!
