Although some real progress has made in 2005 in the areas of planning, stockpile destruction, Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education, Research, Victim assistance and data management, some improvements and reforms remain to be achieved if Cambodia wants to meet its objectives and its commitments towards the Mine Ban Treaty. If the current pace in mine clearing persists it seems likely that the GoC will seek to extend the Article 5 deadline of March 2010. However there is substantial scope to increase the elimination of the mine/UXO problem as current approaches could be carried out more result-oriented and more efficient, both in terms of time and costs.
Some institutional and operational changes have been initiated that need to be confirmed if Cambodia wants to continue to mitigate the threat posed by mines and UXO among the most affected communities and contribute to poverty alleviation and overall development. Given that the mine clearance deadline is only five years from now and the fact that the number of casualties in Cambodia is still among the highest in the world, some of the urgent initiatives include or will include:
The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) continues to actively support the Mine Ban Treaty and NGOs are willing to maintain their operations as long donors are committed to keep supporting (HMA) until threat is reduced to an acceptable and tolerable level.
Mol Mov is the head of 8-member family who migrated from Takeo province to Pailin 4 years ago in search of alternative means of subsistence. When arriving in Tum Nob village in the commune of Stoeng Trang, he was advised by a land owner to settle in an uncleared mine field. Mol Mov had then to demine the land before cultivating it. In one year he found and cleared more than 50 hazardous devices and an 11 year-old boy was injured and his brother killed when deliberately handling a UXO. After one year, the owner has asked Mol Mov to vacate the reclaimed land and find other land to cultivate. Mol Mov will now have to leave the land he has worked on, to settle his family on other mined land elsewhere.
Issue A. The National Authority has shown increased and more pro-active interest in its coordination with operators and donors through more regular coordination meetings, the Technical Working Group and the Mine Action Forum. Particular improvements in the areas of support to Mine Action Planning Units (MAPUs) for appropriate prioritization and distribution of demined land, Mine Risk education, data management and accreditation have been noticed. Yet, interest has to be confirmed in particular through the completion of the reform of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victims Assistance Authority (CMAA).
Issue B. Continuous attention to the development of adapted working methods and cost reduction has been noticed among operators also under the guidance and pressure of donors. Led by the persistent level of Mine and UXO casualties in Cambodia, this must also go with the development of refined strategies in the field of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), the recognition of the work achieved by the informal sector, including village deminers, the development of a systematic QA system, the development of a thorough analysis capacity of the data collected and the maintenance of the level of funding for HMA in Cambodia.
Issue C. Victim Assistance – Needs of survivors include medical service, physical rehabilitation and psycho-social support, socio economic integration and the law to protect the rights. There is a good database on casualties but little on assistance to the survivors. To ensure sustainability and avoid unnecessary segregation of survivors or the families of those killed or injured, assistance should be viewed as part of general development planning for their community as a whole. However, at the same time, there should also be specific activities targeted at landmine survivors and other persons with disabilities including ensuring access to appropriate rehabilitation facilities and aids, and opportunities for socio-economic reintegration.
Issue D. The role played by the local communities in the guidance planning and implementation of demining operations must be recognized and supported by the formal sector and further explored in anticipation of the phasing out of existing resources for HMA. Empowering local people to take leadership on their mine and UXO problem can lead to substantial threat mitigation and problem resolution.
To the Royal Government of Cambodia:
For more information on the issues raised in this paper, please contact:
Cambodia Campaign to Ban Land Mines, Tel: 855 23 880 455, Email: camban@online.com.kh
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