Learning about Landmine Clearance in Cambodia - 116th Global Voyage

During Peace Boat’s 116th Global Voyage, a group of 26 participants and accompanying staff visited Cambodia to learn about the ongoing landmine issue in the country. During their visit, the group visited landmine clearance sites, NGOs supporting landmine survivors and villages where Peace Boat continues to assist, and learnt about the current situation of the landmine issue.

This article introduces these visits to a landmine clearance site, a primary school that Peace Boat continues to support, and a centre that provides prosthetic limbs.

Visiting Landmine Clearance Sites

The participants visited one of the sites where the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) is carrying out demining activities. Following a briefing by CMAC staff, participants observed the work on site while wearing the same equipment as the deminers.

CMAC staff lead the way as the group approached the removal site, but just from the view, it is difficult to differentiate at first glance which part has been deemed safe and which has not yet. There is a sense of tension in the air, as there is a possibility that if you don't follow the person in front of you, you could end up approaching a minefield.

Mine detection dogs were active at the clearing site. Under the direction of their partner deminers, the dogs would walk right next to the minefield and back again. If the dog senses a smell of gunpowder, it will sit next to that location, to inform the staff. From there, the removal crew uses a metal detector to examine it more closely before digging it up. The discovered mines are then detonated.

Seeing the danger involved in these activities while under the blazing sun and wearing heavy helmets and protectors, participants felt keenly that landmines should not ever be used.

Numerous landmines were buried during the civil war in Cambodia. Following the signing of the Comprehensive Cambodian Peace Agreements in 1991, demining activities began.

Initially, CMAC recruited ex-soldiers as mine clearers. Those who buried mines as soldiers already had knowledge about landmines. Working as a deminer also provided an opportunity for such former combatants to reintegrate into society.

As a result of more than 30 years of ongoing demining activities, the clearance of anti-personnel mines on known minefields is scheduled to be completed next year, in 2025.

Clearance of anti-tank mines and unexploded ordnance is still some time away from completion. Yet, nevertheless the light at the end of the tunnel which is this long-running demining campaign is finally visible.

Interacting with children at a demined primary school

Participants visited a primary school in the town of Sna Phae, where Peace Boat has supported demining and construction of the school.

The children welcomed and interacted with the group through games like football, origami, hand games and other activities.

The school grounds where we played with the children were filled with landmines until 2015. 46 mines and 33 unexploded ordnance were found on this primary school site.

The children ran around as much as they could on the land that had become safe. At the end of the visit, the Peace Boat participants and the children gifted each other with a song.

Centre for Providing Prosthetic Legs

There are 12 centres across Cambodia that provide prosthetic legs and other prosthetics. We visited one of them, a rehabilitation centre in Siem Reap Province.

Staff members guided the visitors through the workshop where prosthetics and orthotics are made, as well as sharing about the rehabilitation process.

Here, prosthetic legs and other items are provided free of charge. Previously, most patients were landmine victims, but now, many new patients are now people with disabilities due to other causes such as illness or road accidents.

Patients in need of assistance, many of whom live in rural areas far from the centre, can stay at the centre for only 1 USD per day for food, with transportation from home also provided. The operation of the centre is carried out with as little burden on the patient as possible.

Around 200 patients a month come to this centre, including those who need new prosthetics and those who need maintenance. On the other hand, there is only one qualified prosthetist on staff at this centre. There is a serious shortage of prosthetists in Cambodia as many qualified prosthetists work in foreign countries with higher wages.

Lastly, the participants observed gait training and had the opportunity to talk to patients as well.

A similar programme will be held on the 119th Global Voyage, departing from Japan in December 2024. Such support will continue as part of our long-running Peace Boat Mine Abolition Campaign (P-MAC.)