His Royal Highness, Prince Guillaume, the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg 
H.E. Mr. Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister; Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg
H.E. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister, First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority
H.E. Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Excellencies, development partners, distinguished guests, and colleagues.  

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the power of partnership and the launch of Luxembourg’s support for mine action in Cambodia.

The Clearing for Results project has been supporting mine action in Cambodia since 2006, contributing to land clearance and release for safe use, particularly in the most affected northwestern provinces. To date, the project has cleared and released 384 square kilometers of mine-contaminated land for productive use by affected communities, benefiting over one million people, half of whom are women and girls. This contribution accounts for over 12% of the total sector results with approximately 300,000 mines and ERW destroyed in the process.

In the current phase (2020-2025) funded by Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea, with parallel contribution from the Royal Government of Cambodia, the project prioritizes the development of national capacities to plan, regulate, coordinate, and monitor mine action. Additionally, it implements explosive ordnance risk education and assists survivors and their families in accessing much-needed rehabilitation services and livelihood opportunities.

Excellencies, distinguished guests, and colleagues,

As we welcome Luxembourg as a new partner investing € 2 million in the Clearing for Results project, the project will expand its activities to:

• Clear an additional 8 km² of mine-contaminated land, benefiting approximately 24,000 people, half of whom are women.

• Support five additional physical rehabilitation centers in Phnom Penh, Prey Veng, Kratie, Takeo, and Siem Reap to ensure the provision of quality rehabilitation services to nearly 4,000 mine/ERW survivors and an additional 10,000 persons with disabilities. These services would include community outreach to reduce the burden of transport for patients.

• Provide livelihood opportunities and life skills to approximately 300 survivors or their family members, including 20% women, to support the households of victims. Regular home visits for psycho-social support will be done to help reduce financial and social barriers that mine/ERW survivors and their families often face.

• Support the establishment of two Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams in two declared mine-free provinces to prevent and manage any potential residual threats. It is essential to note that these provinces were cleared of “known” mines and ERW. Therefore, the risk of residual contamination remains possible. The deployment of these teams is crucial for effectively responding to residual contamination and safeguarding people’s lives and livelihoods.

The Luxembourg contribution will also kickstart the next phase of the Clearing for Results project, set to begin in 2026, and which will focus on supporting the implementation of the National Mine Action Policy for 2026-2035.

My sincere thanks go to the Government of Luxembourg for this timely contribution, and my appreciation to the key role of CMAA under the leadership of H.E. Senior Minister Ly Thuch, who is behind the success of mine action in Cambodia and beyond during his presidency of the Ottawa Convention in 2024, and to our development partners Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea for their consistent support. I would also like to thank the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth and its affiliated institutions, namely, the People with Disability Foundation and the partner Physical Rehabilitation Centers, as well as sub-national authorities in target provinces, NGO, demining operators and last but not least the deminers, the heroes working day-in and day-out in minefields.

Excellencies, distinguished guests, and colleagues,

In conclusion, I reconfirm the UNDP’s commitment to supporting the Royal Government in completing the task of releasing all contaminated land for safe and productive use, thereby closing this dark chapter in Cambodia’s history.

Thank you. 
Som Orkun!