Cambodia

Cambodia reported increased land release through survey and clearance by nearly 90% to 362km² in 2023, according to data provided by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority  (CMAA). Despite the significant progress achieved, Cambodia acknowledged in 2024 it would be unable to complete clearance by its latest Article 5 deadline and would request an extension. Official data credited Cambodia’s military with a big share of clearance but without releasing sufficient details of the capacities deployed. Mine Action Review has, therefore, estimated a lower total for clearance, due to concerns about the feasibility of the reported military clearance data. Furthermore, Cambodia did not agree to Thai requests for clearance of tasks in disputed areas of their common border putting a spotlight on the Cambodian military’s apparent resistance and raising concerns about Cambodia’s implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC). Cambodia became the first mine action programme to introduce a national standard on mainstreaming gender and diversity in mine action.

Cambodia has reduced its estimate of mine contamination by hundreds of square kilometres through cancellation, reduction, and clearance despite continuing to discover huge swathes of previously unidentified hazardous area. In 2019, Cambodia requested a second extension of its Article 5 clearance deadline and despite mobilising funds and sharply raising productivity in a push to meet its end-2025 deadline, in 2024 it acknowledged that the scale of the remaining problem would require a third extension.

• Cambodia should step up engagement with Thailand at political, diplomatic, and military levels to conclude agreement on clearing mined areas on their joint border.
• Cambodia’s next Article 5 deadline extension request should be elaborated in collaboration with clearance operators and other implementing partners, and should lay out clear policy, priorities, and timelines for mine clearance, including clearance of the border with Thailand.
• Cambodia should reconsider the military’s restrictions on access to border minefields within 7km of the border by international demining organisations.
• Cambodia should clarify, and include in its next Article 5 extension request, the government’s annual funding for survey and clearance through to completion of its Article 5 obligations.
• Cambodia should seek to enhance quality management of both land release operations and of the resulting land release data, covering clearance operations conducted by all entities, including international and national clearance operators, and the military.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2024" report for Cambodia.