PHNOM PENH — The Embassy of India in Phnom Penh and the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 27, 2026, for a Quick Impact Project (QIP) dedicated to humanitarian demining in Pursat Province.
The ceremony was presided over by H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice-President of the CMAA, and H.E. Vanlalvawna Bawitlung, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Transforming Contaminated Land into Safe Communities
The newly signed QIP project targets Mol Village, Rokat Commune, in Phnom Kravanh District. Under this framework, the project will clear 163,207 square metres of land contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW).
The land clearance initiative will directly benefit 1,403 local residents (369 families), restoring safe access to land for residential housing, agriculture, and infrastructure development. The initiative also incorporates Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) to teach local residents safety protocols and hazard identification.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ambassador Vanlalvawna Bawitlung highlighted that demining extends beyond removing buried ordnance—it serves as an essential foundation for sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and community security.
Decades of Bilateral Mine Action Collaboration
Senior Minister Dr. Ly Thuch expressed gratitude to the Government and people of India, noting that the civilizational ties between both nations continue to be strengthened through impactful humanitarian projects. He also commended India’s “India for Humanity” initiative, which provides prosthetic fits and rehabilitation support to Cambodian landmine survivors.
This latest project marks the fifth demining initiative implemented between India and the CMAA under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) framework:
- Koh Kong Province (First Phase): Successfully cleared 4 villages, benefiting over 7,000 residents.
- Kaoh Pao Village (Koh Kong): Cleared 197,810 sq. metres, supporting more than 3,300 families.
- Preah Anduong Village (Pursat): Ongoing clearance of approximately 200,000 sq. metres for 1,000 residents.
- Special Grant Districts (2022 Framework): Botum Sakor, Srae Ambel, and Trapeang Rung communes have already been declared mine-free, with Thma Bang District nearing completion.
Since the early 1990s, India has supported Cambodia’s national demining goals through technical assistance, equipment grants, mine-detection dogs, and capacity building, bringing the Kingdom closer to its goal of becoming free from the threat of landmines.
