Cambodia

Mine Action

Last updated: 11 December 2017

Contaminated by: landmines (massive contamination), cluster munition remnants (heavy contamination), and other unexploded ordnance (UXO).

Article 5 deadline: 1 January 2020
(Not on track to meet deadline)

Non-signatory to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

At the end of 2016, the Kingdom of Cambodia had an estimated 897km2 of mine-contaminated land, of which over 100km2 had dense antipersonnel mine contamination. In 2016, Cambodia released a total of 68.7km2, a significant decrease from the 147km2 released in 2015. A total of 28.93km2 was canceled by non-technical survey, 14.48km2 was reduced by technical survey, and 25.33km2 was cleared.

Cambodia also has heavy contamination from cluster munition remnants but the extent is not known. As of May 2017, Cambodia estimated the amount of land contaminated by cluster munition remnants to be almost 365km2. Land release results were significantly higher in 2016 than the year before. In 2016, Cambodia reported the clearance of 22.38km2 of cluster munition-contaminated land, a remarkable increase on the 0.77km2 reported for 2015. A total area of 2.85km2 was canceled by non-technical survey, and 3.19km2 was reduced by technical survey. A total of 8,852 submunitions were destroyed. A total of 86.57km2 was confirmed through survey.

Cambodia also has almost 105km2 of other unexploded ordnance contamination.

Recommendations for action

  • Cambodia should finalize the 2017–2025 National Mine Action Strategy, including plans for completion of Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 obligations, as soon as possible.
  • The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) should accelerate clearance of dense (category A1) antipersonnel mine contamination.
  • Clearance should only be conducted of land where there is firm evidence of contamination.
  • Adopt standards for survey and clearance appropriate for dealing with cluster munitions.
  • Set strategic goals for clearance of explosive remnants of war (ERW), giving priority to cluster munition remnants in the most affected provinces.
  • Centralize data management to produce comprehensive and disaggregateddata on survey and clearance of mined areas, cluster munition remnants, and battle area contaminated with other ERW. Present this data in an annual report summarizing progress towards strategic targets.
  • The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) and mine action stakeholders should review land release planning, prioritization, and tasking to ensure assets are used to maximum effect.

Mine Contamination (see below for ERW, including cluster munition remnants)

Cambodia is affected by mines and ERW left by 30 years of conflict that ended in the 1990s.Itsantipersonnel mine problem is concentrated in, but not limited to, 21 northwestern districts along the border with Thailand that account for the great majority of mine casualties. The K5 mine belt, which was installed along the border with Thailand in the mid-1980s in an effort to block insurgent infiltration, ranks among the densest contamination in the world.[1]

After 25 years of mine action in Cambodia, estimates of the extent of mine contamination continue to fluctuate. A baseline survey (BLS) of Cambodia’s 139 most mine-affected districts completed in 2013 estimated total mine and ERW contamination at 1,915km². The BLS identified hazardous areas affected to some degree by mines, covering a total of more than 1,111km², of which 1,043km2 were affected by antipersonnel mines. This included some 73km2 of dense contamination but most areas, covering 892km², contained “scattered or nuisance” antipersonnel and antivehicle mines.[2] (See section below on cluster munition remnants and other ERW contamination.)

At the end of 2016, the CMAA estimate of dense antipersonnel mine contamination had risen to more than 100km2 and the estimate of total mine contamination was 4% higher at 897km2, reflecting mainly increased estimates of scattered/nuisance mines and antivehicle mines (see table below).[3] The reason for the higher level of contamination has not been explained but the CMAA acknowledges that mined areas continue to be found outside the polygons identified in the BLS.[4] As an example, Mines Advisory Group (MAG) reported it found 16 minefields in Rattanakiri province in 2016 that had not been captured in previous survey.[5]

Mine contamination based on BLS and additional survey results for 139 districts[6]

Contamination classification

Area (m²)
May 2013

Area (m²)
End 2014

Area (m2)
End 2015

Area (m2)
End 2016

A1 Dense AP mines

63,894,629

99,750,628

99,490,452

100,778,056

         

A2 Mixed AP and AV mines

78,601,787

N/R

40,064,014

36,361,353

A2.1 Mixed dense AP/AV mines

9,154,925

N/R

6,561,919

7,090,672

A2.2 Mixed scattered AP/ AV mines

216,840,425

N/R

173,915,747

168,694,189

A2 Total

304,597,137

255,370,490

220,541,680

212,146,214

A3 AV mines

68,187,332

N/R

31,510,235

47,082,941

         

A4 Scattered or nuisance mines

674,882,897

627,720,309

508,247,851

537,184,712

Total

1,111,561,995

982,841,427

859,790,218

897,191,923

Note: AP = antipersonnel; AV = antivehicle; and N/R = not reported.

A draft national mine action strategy for 2017–2025 said that as of March 2017, Cambodia had 946km2 of mine contamination, including 103km2 of A1 category dense antipersonnel mine contamination, 220km2 of A2 category (mixed antipersonnel and antivehicle mines), and 544km2 of A4 category (scattered mines).[7]

ERW, including cluster munition contamination

Cambodia has extensive contamination from cluster munition remnants but the full extent is not known. Contamination resulted from intensive bombing by the United States (US) during the Vietnam War, concentrated in northeastern provinces along the borders with Lao PDR and Vietnam. The US Air Force dropped at least 26 million explosive submunitions, between 1.9 million and 5.8 million of which are estimated to have not exploded.[8]

The CMAA estimated the area affected by cluster munition remnants as of May 2017 at almost 365km2, 30km2 more than at the end of 2015 andrepresenting more than three-quarters of total ERW contamination. The estimate was based on a BLS conducted in eight eastern provinces between 2012 and 2015 and continuing survey by operators. Two provinces, Kratie and Stung Treng, accounted for more than half the total (see table below).[9]

ERW survey of eight eastern provinces[10]

Province

Cluster munition remnants (m2)

Other UXO (m2)

Kampong Cham

22,978,978

12,782,696

Kratie

96,733,733

15,906,744

Mondolkiri

18,648,563

10,375,597

Prey Veng

31,560,602

19,123,571

Rattanakiri

39,284,290

1,275,231

Stung Treng

107,021,757

26,363,551

Svay Rieng

32,923,833

12,287,556

Tboung Khmum

15,798,656

6,749,549

Total

364,950,412

104,864,495

 

However, the accuracy of the estimate has been called into question by some operators. The BLS employed a landmine survey methodology, resulting in hugely exaggerated and inaccurate polygons. Operators continue to receive information about contamination in areas already covered by the BLS and find contamination outside BLS polygons. CMAA reporting forms are formatted to record mine clearance and do not capture the results of cluster munition survey.[11] A draft National Mine Action Strategy circulating in May 2017 further underscored the weakness of understanding of the extent of the problem, reporting that Cambodia has 645km2 of area contaminated by cluster munition remnants.[12]

Much of Cambodia’s cluster munition contamination lies in areas that are heavily forested and which have been sparsely populated. The CMAA did not record any cluster munition incidents in 2016. However, demand for land and the large numbers of people moving into the northern provinces raise the threat of casualties while also generating more evidence of the scale of contamination.[13]

Program Management

The CMAA, set up in September 2000, regulates and coordinates mine action, responsibilities previously assigned to the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC).[14] The CMAA’s responsibilities include regulation and accreditation of all operators, preparing strategic plans, managing data, conducting quality control, and coordinating risk education and victim assistance.[15]

Prime Minister Hun Sen is the CMAA president, and he made several senior management changes in 2016. In April 2016, he appointed a senior official, Serei Kosal, as first vice president, replacing a senior government minister, Prak Sokhonn, who became foreign minister. In May 2016, he also replaced the CMAA’s Secretary General, Prum Sophakmonkol, with another senior minister, Ly Thuch.[16] In October 2016, Hun Sen also appointed Lieutenant-General Sem Sovanny, Director General of the National Center for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and ERW Clearance (NPMEC), as a second vice-president of the CMAA.

The CMAA identifies priority communes for clearance on the basis of casualty data, while provincial-level Mine Action Planning Units (MAPUs) are responsible for preparing annual clearance task lists, working in consultation with local authorities to identify community priorities and with operators, taking account of donor funding and objectives. Task lists are reviewed and approved by Provincial Mine Action Committees (PMACs) and the CMAA. Reviews of the system in 2015 identified weaknesses, notably in reconciling local-level priorities with wider strategic goals,[17] and CMAA management acknowledged a need to review the criteria for prioritizing clearance in discussions on a new mine action strategy.[18]

The UNDP has supported the CMAA through a “Clearing for Results” (CFR) program since 2006, awarding contracts funded by international donors through a process of competitive bidding. The first two phases from 2006 to the end of 2015 resulted in release of 167km2 at a cost of $37 million.[19]

Strategic planning

As of September 2017, the CMAA was in the process of developing a draft National Mine Action Strategy 2017–2025, in discussion between CMAA, operators, and other stakeholders, which operators hoped would invigorate donor support. The CMAA had intended to complete it that year but progress was held back by the CMAA’s management reshuffle and wider political developments in the build-up to national elections. One proposal under consideration was to present it at the Mine Ban Treaty Sixteenth Meeting of States Parties in December 2017.[20]

The draft plan called for a Cambodia that “is mine free and the threat from explosive remnants of war is minimized and human and socio-economic development takes place safely.”[21]

The draft plan set eight goals and 27 objectives. The goals were:

  • Release all known mined areas by 2025.
  • Release prioritized cluster munition-contaminated areas by 2025.
  • Address the threats from ERW.
  • Minimize mine/ERW (including cluster munition remnants) casualties and improve survivors’ livelihoods.
  • Contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction.
  • Promote regional and international disarmament and cooperation in mine action.
  • Establish a sustainable national capacity to address residual mine/ERW contamination after 2025.
  • Ensure mine action activities are supported by enhanced quality management systems, effective information management, and are gender- and environment-sensitive.

The draft said total known mine contamination amounted to 946km2. It said Cambodia had released an average of 94km2 a year for the last three years and at this rate would need 10 years to complete the release of all known mine-contaminated areas. To meet the goals of the Maputo Declaration and achieve completion by 2025, Cambodia would need to increase productivity by 22% to release 115km2 a year.[22]

An initial draft of the plan had observed that demining operations in 2014–2015 had released mainly A4 and A2 land and very little A1 dense contamination and called for more balance in the categories of land prioritized for clearance, signaling the need to accelerate clearance of A1 land.[23]

The initial draft plan also acknowledged that “a significant number” of mined areas cleared in 2016 either did not contain any mines or only contained mine types that experience showed had degraded and no longer functioned.[24] The observation echoed a finding by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) in a 2016 report, citing official data that almost half the land released by full clearance or reduced by technical survey in 2015 contained no mines (26%) or very few devices (23%). It also found that dense antipersonnel mine contamination accounted for 7% of land released by full clearance in 2015 and 3.5% of land cleared in 2010–2015. Land contaminated by nuisance or scattered mines accounted for almost half the area released in 2010–2015.[25]

The draft strategy said planning and prioritization should take device types into consideration and that clearance tasks should be prioritized on the basis of effective re-survey (non-technical survey) that identified areas with clear evidence of the presence of mines. It said planning and prioritization should respond to the needs of communities on its border and that donor funding should be directed to priority areas where communities are impacted by high-risk mine types that are likely to function.[26]

The HALO Trust had previously pointed to the need to avoid clearing areas about to reach the status of reclaimed land (after three years’ cultivation without mines being encountered). It also argued for more clearance of land with highly functional mine types (such as PMN, PPM-2, and 72 Alpha antipersonnel and antivehicle mines) rather than areas with mine types known by local communities to be particularly prone to degrading (Type 69, PMD 60, POM).[27]

A Concept Paper on resource mobilization released by the CMAA in early 2016 said Cambodia would need almost US$340 million to deal with contamination totaling 1,638km2, of which some 930km2 was mined area and 707km2 was battle area. It said Cambodia would be able to release 1,545km2 (94% of the total) by 2025 through technical survey and clearance but warned that mine action targets were “seriously threatened” by lack of funding.[28] The CMAA believed Cambodia would need around $400 million to tackle 1,970km2 of mine and ERW contamination by 2025.[29]

Operators

Mine clearance is undertaken mainly by the national operator, CMAC, and two international mine action NGOs, The HALO Trust and MAG. A national NGO, Cambodian Self-help Demining (CSHD), has been active since 2011. The NPMECalso conducted mine clearance.[30]

Survey and clearance of cluster munition remnants in eastern Cambodia are also undertaken mainly by CMAC, as well as MAG and NPA. The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the NPMEChave conducted clearance in cluster munition-affected areas, but the extent and results of their operations have not been made public.

CMAC is the biggest operator with more than 1,200 personnel. This was a decrease on the 1,700 the previous year, due to funding cuts.[31] The NPMEC had 13 demining and four explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams accredited with the CMAA in 2016, an increase of two EOD teams compared to the start of 2015. In 2017, it reported only 10 NPMEC units accredited with the CMAA.[32]

MAG had eight mine action teams and a total of 128 deminers operating in 2016 in Battambang and Pailin of a total of 228 staff that included BAC, EOD, community liaison, and mechanical clearance teams. HALO continued to operate with 1,100 personnel in five western and northern provinces in 2016.[33] Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) had 36 staff.[34]

In 2017, three commercial companies were accredited to operate in 2017, BACTEC, D&Y, and MUCC.[35]

Information management

The CMAA uses Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) New Generation.

The GICHD reported in 2016 that the Database Unit staff “possesses the skills and knowledge to realize solutions to the increasing analysis and reporting requirement of the CMAA management” and demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the quality of data.[36] In 2017, however, the CMAA still struggled to produce consistent, disaggregated data detailing the progress of survey and clearance (see section on land release).

Land Release (mines)

The CMAA reported release of a total of 68.7km2 of mined area through survey and clearance in 2016 but inconsistencies in the CMAA’s data as well as between CMAA data and results reported by operators meant this was an approximate figure.[37] Even with this caveat, it was clear that the pace of land release had decreased sharply from 2015, when Cambodia appeared to have released a total of approximately 147km2.[38]

The slowdown had been expected as operators completed the survey of areas reclaimed by local communities that had started in 2015 and produced a spike in the amount of land canceled by non-technical survey. The result underscored that land release in future would increasingly require technical survey and/or full clearance, further slowing progress towards completion, particularly as operators are tasked onto more A1 densely contaminated areas.[39]

Land release in 2016 by land classification and methodology (m2)[40]

 

Area canceled by Non-Technical Survey

Area reduced by Technical Survey

Area cleared

Total

Antipersonnel mines destroyed

Antivehicle mines destroyed

ERW destroyed

A1 Dense AP mines

202,428

59,992

699,774

962,194

1,698

0

44

A2 Mixed AP and AV mines

301,648

324,412

1,319,324

1,945,384

130

8

279

A2.1 Mixed dense AP/AV mines

70,020

62,785

240,287

373,092

560

6

5,713

A2.2 Mixed scattered AP/AV mines

6,932,983

6,528,992

9,055,794

22,517,769

2,774

45

1,267

A3 AV mines

189,996

22,530

6,654,607

6,867,133

93

56

249

A4 Scattered or nuisance mines

17,792,584

6,121,746

6,279,342

30,193,672

2,166

38

975

B2

3,437,406

1,359,510

1,078,636

5,875,552

157

0

493

Total

28,927,065

14,479,967

25,327,764

68,734,796

7,578

153

9,020

Note: AP = antipersonnel; AV = antivehicle.

Survey in 2016 (mines)

The CMAA reported release of 43.41km2 through cancelation by non-technical survey and reduction through technical survey in 2016 (see table below) but its figures differed significantly from those reported by operators.

Land released by survey in 2016 (m2)[41]

Operator

Area canceled by NTS

Area reduced by TS

Total release by survey

CMAC

17,010

12,438,399

12,455,409

CSHD

0

43,254

43,254

MAG[42]

1,265,770

1,302,961

2,568,731

NPMEC

0

451,161

451,161

HALO

27,644,284

244,192

27,888,476

Total

28,927,064

14,479,967

43,407,031

Note: NTS = non-technical survey; TS = technical survey.

Clearance in 2016 (mines)

The amount of land released through clearance fell sharply in 2016, though data inconsistencies make it difficult to determine results precisely.

The CMAA reported two different totals for the amount of area cleared in 2016. In the table above, “Land release in 2016 by land classification and methodology (m2)” it reported 25,327,764m2 cleared. In the table below, “Mine clearance in 2016” it reported 26,655,461m2 cleared.

Mine clearance in 2016[43]

Operator

Areas cleared

Area cleared (m2)

Antipersonnel mines destroyed

Antivehicle mines destroyed

Submunitions destroyed

UXO destroyed

CMAC[44]

230

13,739,804

3,038

32

3

1,692

CSHD

23

434,075

139

2

0

174

HALO

232

11,268,298

3,248

97

0

6,079

MAG[45]

9

151,908

314

0

0

153

NPMEC

18

1,061,376

610

17

0

524

Total

512

26,655,461

7,349

148

3

8,622

 

In 2016, HALO continued to work on clearing parts of the K5 mine belt and expanded its presence in Prey Vihear province but faced restrictions on access to some areas close to disputed parts of Cambodia’s border with Thailand. In 2017, it deployed teams for the first time to Koh Kong province, an area starting to attract large numbers of settlers but left out of survey and clearance.[46]

Land Release (cluster munition remnants)

Cambodia greatly increased the release of land contaminated with cluster munition remnants in 2016 compared to the previous year, with clearance output exceeding 22km2; 3.19km2 of land was reduced through technical survey, and 2.85km2 was canceled through non-technical survey.

Survey in 2016 (cluster munition remnants)

In 2016, survey was conducted by CMAC and NPA. NPA used its Cluster Munition Remnants Survey (CMRS) methodology.

NPA completed its non-technical survey of Rattanakiri province in 2016, confirming 20 hazardous areas (CHAs) covering 1.8km2 and in the process canceling nearly 3km2 from the baseline survey of contamination.[47]

CMAC’s survey of suspected hazardous areas (SHAs) in eastern provinces in 2016 confirmed cluster munition contamination in 455 areas covering 84.73km2. Of this, CMAC confirmed 145 areas covering 34km2 in southeastern Svay Rieng, 115 covering 21.29km2 in the neighboring province of Prey Veng, and 29.44km2 in seven other provinces.[48] CMAC reported the reduction of 3.19km2 through technical survey.[49]

Cluster munition survey[50]

Operator

Area surveyed (m2)

CHAs identified

Area confirmed (m2)

Area cancelled from BLS (m2)

Area reduced (m2)

NPA

4,687,500

20

1,840,521

2,846,979

N/A

CMAC

Not known

455

84,730,000

N/A

3,187,271

Total

 

477

86,570,521

2,846,979

3,187,271

Note: N/A = not applicable.

Clearance in 2016 (cluster munition remnants)

Operators reported clearing a total of 22.38km2 of cluster munition-contaminated areas in 2016, a huge increase on the previous year. According to the data available, CMAC accounted for more than 90% of the area cleared in 2016, most of it in Kampong Cham (9.1km2) and Kratie (6.4km2).[51] Clearance results were not provided for the armed forces and NPMEC.

MAG increased the number of its battle area clearance (BAC) teams from three to four, and tripled the amount of cluster munition-affected area it cleared in 2016 compared with the previous year, destroying four times the number of submunitions. MAG said use of advanced Scorpion detectors and better use of historical data in selecting tasks had contributed to higher productivity. MAG almost doubled the number of roving tasks undertaken in 2016, although this resulted in a sharp increase in the number of items of UXO destroyed, this included fewer submunitions than in 2015.[52]

NPA, focused mainly on survey, cleared slightly more area than it did in 2015, although the number of submunitions destroyed more than doubled.[53]

Clearance of cluster munition-contaminated areas in 2016[54]

Operator

Areas cleared

Area cleared (m²)

Submunitions destroyed

Other UXO destroyed

CMAC

147

20,381,947

3,471

1,171

MAG

N/R

1,724,547

868

79

NPA[55]

5

276,430

583

26

Total

152

22,382,924

4,922

1,276

Note: N/R = not recorded.

Spot/roving clearance and EOD in 2016

Operator

Roving tasks

Submunitions destroyed

UXO destroyed

CMAC

2,618

974

18,445

MAG

2,170

2,892

6,772

NPA

82

64

20

Total

4,870

3,930

25,237

 

Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 Compliance

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty and in accordance with the 10-year extension granted by States Parties in 2009, Cambodia is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 January 2020. It is not on track to meet this deadline.

Cambodia’s draft mine action strategy for 2017–2025 sets a target of completing clearance of known mine contaminated areas by 2025 but makes clear this is dependent on a attracting donor support of around $400 million, averaging more than $40 million a year, a much higher level than achieved in recent years.

Release of mined areas in 2012–2016 (km2)[56]

Year

Area cleared

Area released by survey

Total area released

2016

25.33

43.41

68.73

2015

46.47

100.49

146.96

2014

50.24

45.98

96.22

2013

45.59

21.46

67.05

2012

45.96

6.62

52.58

Total

217.73

214.06

431.78

 

 

The Monitor acknowledges the contributions of the Mine Action Review (www.mineactionreview.org), which has conducted the mine action research in 2017, including on survey and clearance, and shared all its resulting landmine and cluster munition reports with the Monitor. The Monitor is responsible for the findings presented online and in its print publications.



[1] HALO Trust, “Mine clearance in Cambodia–2009,” January 2009, p. 8.

[2] Revised BLS data presented in statement of Cambodia, Mine Ban Treaty Intersessional Meetings, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Geneva, 10 April 2014.

[3] Email from the CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[4] Cambodia’s Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report for 2016, Form D, identified only 81.83km2 of antipersonnel mine contamination, compared with the 646km2 reported by Cambodia in its Article 7 report for 2015, Form C.

[5] Interview with Greg Crowther, Regional Director, South and South East Asia, Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Phnom Penh, 1 May 2017.

[6] Data received by email from CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[7] CMAA, “National Mine Action Strategy 2017–2025,” Draft, 2017, pp. 16–17.

[8] South East Asia Air Sortie Database, cited in D. McCracken, “National Explosive Remnants of War Study, Cambodia,” NPA in collaboration with CMAA, Phnom Penh, March 2006, p. 15; Human Rights Watch, “Cluster Munitions in the Asia-Pacific Region,” April 2008; and Handicap International (HI), Fatal Footprint: The Global Human Impact of Cluster Munitions (HI, Brussels, November 2006), p. 11.

[9] Data received from CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[10] Email from Prom Serey Audom, Assistant to the Secretary General, CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[11] Interviews with Aksel Steen-Nilsen, Country Director, NPA, and Greg Crowther, Regional Director, South and South East Asia, MAG, in Phnom Penh, 1 May 2017.

[12] CMAA, “National Mine Action Strategy 2017–2025,” Draft, 2017, p. 17, fig. 3.

[13] Casualty data received by email from Nguon Monoketya, Deputy Director, Socio-Economic Planning and Database Management Department, CMAA, 17 February 2017.

[14] CMAC is the leading national demining operator, but does not exercise the wider responsibilities associated with the term “center.” Set up in 1992, CMAC was assigned the role of coordinator in the mid-1990s. It surrendered this function in a restructuring of mine action in 2000 that separated the roles of regulator and implementing agency and led to the creation of the CMAA.

[15] Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), “A Study of the Development of National Mine Action Legislation,” November 2004, pp. 64–66.

[16] Interviews with Prum Sophakmonkol, Secretary General, CMAA, Phnom Penh, 11 May 2016; and with operators, Phnom Penh, 9–11 May 2016.

[17] Interview with Prum Sophakmonkol, CMAA, Phnom Penh, 11 May 2016; and “Review of MAPU-led prioritization decisions in CFRII target provinces, western Cambodia,” Draft Report, 24 January 2016, pp. 4 and 47.

[18] Interview with Ly Thuch, Secretary General, CMAA, Phnom Penh, 2 May 2017.

[19] UNDP, “Clearing for Results Phase II, Annual Report 2014,” undated but 2015, pp. 18–19. Results included contracts awarded in 2015 for release of 54.1km2 at a cost of $4.9 million.

[20] Email from Edwin Faigmane, Chief Technical Adviser, UNDP, 21 September 2017.

[21] CMAA, “National Mine Action Strategy 2017–2025,” Draft 02, 2017, p. 12.

[22] Ibid., p. 15.

[23] CMAA, “National Mine Action Strategy 2017–2025,” Version 26.4, 2017, pp. 17–18.

[24] Ibid., pp. 18–19.

[25] GICHD, “‘Finishing the Job,’ an independent review of Cambodia’s mine action sector,” Geneva, 30 April 2016, pp. 41–42.

[26] CMAA, “National Mine Action Strategy 2017–2025,” Draft, 2017, p 35.

[27] Interview with Matthew Hovell, Programme Manager, HALO Trust, Siem Reap, 12 May 2016.

[28] CMAA, “Concept Paper: Cambodian Mine Action Resources Mobilisation,” undated but 2016.

[29] Interview with Ly Thuch, CMAA, Phnom Penh, 2 May 2017; and CMAA, “National Mine Action Strategy 2017–2025,” Draft, 2017, pp. 7 and 18.

[30] Email from CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[31] Email from Rath Pottana, CMAC, 9 May 2017.

[32] Emails from CMAA, 18 April 2016, and 2 May 2017.

[33] Interview with Matthew Hovell, HALO Trust, Siem Reap, 12 May 2016; and email from CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[34] Emails from Rath Pottana, Information Officer, CMAC, 9 May 2017; from Greg Crowther, MAG, 4 April 2017; and from Aksel Steen-Nilsen, NPA, 31 March 2017.

[35] Email from CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[36] GICHD, “‘Finishing the Job,’ an independent review of Cambodia’s mine action sector,” Geneva, 30 April 2016, p. 58

[37] Email from CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[38] Ibid.; and 2016 data compiled from results reported by the CMAA and operators.

[39] Interviews with Greg Crowther, MAG, Phnom Penh, 1 May 2017; and with Matthew Hovell, HALO Trust, Siem Reap, 4 May 2017.

[40] Emails from CMAA, 2 May and 7 June 2017.

[41] Email from CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[42] MAG reported that it canceled 1.68km2 through non-technical survey in 2016 and reduced 0.8km2 as part of its technical survey. Email from Greg Crowther, MAG, 4 April 2017.

[43] Email from CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[44] CMAC reported that it cleared 17.5km2 in 2016. Interview with Heng Rattana, Director, CMAC, Phnom Penh, 2 May 2017; and email, 9 May 2017.

[45] MAG reported clearance of 1,971,204m2 and destroying 830 antipersonnel mines.

[46] Interview with Matthew Hovell, HALO Trust, Siem Reap, 12 May 2016; and email from CMAA, 2 May 2017.

[47] Interview with Aksel Steen-Nilsen, NPA, in Phnom Penh, 1 May 2017.

[48] The seven provinces were: Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Kratie, Rattanakiri, Stung Treng, Takeo, and Tboung Khmum.

[49] Email from Rath Pottana, CMAC, 9 May 2017.

[50] Emails from Aksel Steen-Nilsen, NPA, 27 April 2016; and from Zlatko Vezilic, NPA, 7 July 2017. Submunitions cleared during the course of technical survey are reported in table on Clearance of cluster munition-contaminated areas in 2016.

[51] Email from Rath Pottana, CMAC, 9 May 2017; and from CMAA, 30 May 2016.

[52] Email from Greg Crowther, MAG, 4 April 2017; and interview, in Phnom Penh, 1 May 2017.

[53] Email from Aksel Steen-Nilsen, NPA, 31 March 2017; and interview, in Phnom Penh, 1 May 2017.

[54] Emails from Rath Pottana CMAC, 9 May 2017; from Greg Crowther, MAG, 10 May 2016; and from Aksel Steen-Nilsen, NPA, 27 April 2016.

[55] The total of 583 submunitions destroyed includes 349 destroyed in clearance and 234 destroyed during technical survey. Emails from Zlatko Vezilic, NPA, 18 and 19 July 2017.

[56] Compiled by data provided by the CMAA and operators.