Japan donates $5.5 mil for mine clearance equipments to Cambodia

PHNOM PENH —
The Japanese government on Wednesday donated mine clearance equipment to Cambodia with a total worth of $5.5 million. In a speech at a ceremony to hand over the equipment, Japanese Ambassador Masafumi Kuroki said Japan’s latest donation brings the total value of the assistance it has rendered to Cambodia for demining activities to $110 million.

He said Japan places a particular emphasis on assisting Cambodia in this area because landmines and unexploded ordnance ‘‘endanger the lives of the people and hinder the development of the country.’‘

The equipment handed over includes more than 600 mine detectors as well as mine destruction vehicles and a mobile maintenance warehouse.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked Japan for its latest donation and said clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance remains one of his government’s priorities.

He said that since the mine clearance activities commenced in 1993, Cambodia with international support has been able to clear 520 square kilometers of land, though another 670 square km has yet to be completely cleared.