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(14).  Land Mines and UXO 

In Section 3.1.5. (Vulnerability), the NPRS considers people who live in areas contaminated with landmines and UXOs as vulnerable. In the same section under “Landmines and UXOs,” the NPRS observes that “After more than three decades of wars, landmines are the main obstacles to access by the poor to agricultural lands and create vulnerability for people living in rural areas.” It also states that “mine casualties create a distinct vulnerable group in the country, the amputees,” and that “landmine explosions were the cause of disability of 11 percent of the disabled population, which is currently estimated at 169,000 or 1.5 percent of the total population.”

In Section 4.5.5. (Mine Action: Action Against Land Mines and Unexploded Ordnance), the NPRS further observes that “Cambodia is one of the most highly landmine and UXO affected countries in the world, with one of the highest civilian casualty rates.” Studies indicate that “more than 3,000 suspected areas, amounting to 4,466 km², could be contaminated by mines or UXOs, i.e. 2,5 % of the country's surface area. Furthermore, 61% of the suspected areas are concentrated in the five provinces of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Otdar Meanchey and Preah Vihear, and Pailin municipality ….”

According to the NPRS, “the principle purpose of mine action…is to alleviate poverty through the provision of safe access to productive resources and social services, clearing land mines and UXO, and educating the public on the risks of mines/UXO.” In order to do this, the Annex 3 Matrix outlines the following strategy:

• “Maintain or reinforce present level of mine action based on Mine Action Strategy” by: maintaining de-mining strength; undertaking technical surveys; using databases for prioritization, and enhance risk reduction and victim assistance functions in CMAA.
• “Coordinating all mine clearance to address poverty reduction objectives” by: establishing a reliable and pro-poor planning process with ministries, operators, provinces and NGOs; establishing a socio-economic cost-benefit analysis for the sector; and
• “Developing national Mine Risk Education and Victim Assistance programs.”

Section 4.5.5. also makes specific reference to the fact that mine victims constitute a significant number of disabled people in Cambodia. It refers to a Sub-Decree that has “delegated the responsibility of co-ordination to the ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Vocational Training & Youth Rehabilitation (MOSALVY) in order to carry out, in co-operation with all relevant NGOs, specific interventions for victims and affected communities and to continue to build on the work in victim assistance.”

The main indicators in the Annex 3 Matrix for Mine/UXO Action (5.5) focus on the following, though there are no specific targets :

• the surface areas cleared for poor people;
• the number of beneficiaries;
• percentage of demining strength dedicated to poverty reduction;
• percentage of high/medium/low suspected areas cleared; and,
• the number of civilian casualties reduced.

In Section 6.1., the NPRS lists annual and monthly casualty rates (death and injury) as key indicators. No targets have been set yet. 

NGO Action:

According to the NGO CG Statement, “Mine clearance is not merely a matter of social security, but it is also relevant to economic issues and development in general, especially in terms of providing land and safety of livelihoods to poor farming households in remote areas.”

• Continue monitoring compliance with International Landmine Treaty;
• Continue monitoring use of demined land;
• Monitor implementation of land legislation that alleviates poverty in mine-affected areas;
• Monitor resource mobilization for de-mining/UXO clearance activities in both the public and NGO sectors, as well as the distribution of resources relative to areas with greatest concentrations of landmines and UXO;
• Monitor resource allocation for and implementation of victims assistance programs (e.g., above-mentioned sub-decree).

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