Senior Minister Ly Thuch Welcomes Italy’s Partnership in Accelerating Landmine Clearance Efforts
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – In a significant boost to Cambodia’s humanitarian goals, Italy has pledged its support for the Kingdom’s landmine clearance efforts under the upcoming 2026-2035 National Mine Action Policy.
The announcement was made on Thursday during a high-level Steering Committee meeting for the “Clearing for Results Phase IV” (CfRIV) project, held at the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) headquarters.
Strengthening the “Clearing for Results” Project
The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, First Vice-President of the CMAA, and Shakeel Ahmad, representing the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Dr. Ly Thuch expressed deep gratitude to the existing international coalition, including:
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇰🇷 Republic of Korea (KOICA)
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇺🇳 UNDP
Over the past five years, this partnership has successfully cleared millions of square meters of contaminated land, significantly reducing casualties and unlocking land for socio-economic development.
New Strength from Italy
H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch specifically welcomed Italy’s return to the partnership for the next phase, describing their commitment as a “new source of strength.” This support will be vital as Cambodia navigates its recently approved extension request under the Ottawa Convention.
IStrategic Priorities & Challenges
Despite the progress, the Minister outlined critical areas that require urgent focus:
- Border Provinces: Conducting detailed surveys in contaminated border areas.
- Rapid Response: Maintaining the ability to react quickly to explosive ordnance reports in high-risk zones.
- Economic Potential: Prioritizing clearance in areas with high potential for agriculture and infrastructure to ensure sustainable peace.
“Italy’s support is essential to eliminating the threat of explosive ordnance and ensuring that no Cambodian family has to live in fear of landmines,” stated Dr. Ly Thuch.