As a result of various conflicts over the last thirty years or so, Cambodia is one of the most heavily landmine and UXO contaminated countries in the world. The Landmine Impact Survey completed in April 2002 revealed that the number of areas contaminated by mines and UXO is about 30% higher than estimated in the United Nations Transitional Authority period. All 24 provinces have areas contaminated by mines and UXO, and 13 areas are also affected by cluster munitions. A total of 6,422 villages, or 46% of Cambodian villages, have mine/UXO-affected areas. The total suspected contaminated area is 4,466 million square meters, or 2.5% of the total surface of the country.The threat of UXO and mines impedes mobility, security, economic activity, and development in several provinces, particularly in the north and northwest of the country. In the forests of Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Oddar Meanchey, and Pailin, the most affected provinces, people still have their limbs blown off as they search for a way to feed their families. Mine and UXO contamination restricts access to home, agricultural land, pasture land, water sources, forests, schools, dams, canals markets, business activities, health centers, pagodas, bridges, and neighboring villages. UXO incidents account for about 50% of total casualties.

By the end of 2001, close to 170 million square meters had been cleared, and around 1 million people of the rural population benefited from gaining access to safe land and essential infrastructure. Since 1993, over 1.7 million people participated in mine awareness programs in Cambodia. With over 80% of the country’s population residing in rural areas, and 40% of these estimated to be living below the poverty line, mine action programs continue to be of the highest priority in the achievement of Cambodia’s overriding policy of poverty reduction.

Marking of mined areas is in progress, but it will take a long time to fence all areas. On 31 December 2001, the Cambodian Mine Action Center was reported to have marked a total of 619 mined locations, representing 126.26 million square meters In March 2002, 92% of the 98 casualties reported had the incident in non-marked places.

Cambodia has one of the highest ratios of amputees in the world.

In Cambodia, many people continue to die, lose limbs and their eyesight to anti-personnel mines. Despite this, it is harder to get funding for mine-risk education and assistance to mine victims. The Cambodian Red Cross is struggling to maintain its mine-risk education project. If we fail to find support, there is no doubt there will be more accidents, deaths and injuries and people will forget the problem.