Disabled person wears his prosthesis at a rehabilitation centre in Phnom Penh on May 24,2006. More than 30 years since the end of the Vietnam War, more and more people in impoverished Cambodia are being killed trying to cut up unexploded bombs and shells to sell as scrap metal, a report said. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea(Kyodo) - The number of deaths and injuries caused by mines and unexploded ordnance in Cambodia has leveled off in recent years but remains high, a government report said Wednesday.
"Despite many years of clearance operations, the number of mine/UXO causalities has been stable for the last five years --about 800 to 900 per year," according to the report issued by the Cambodian Mine Action Authority.
The report said there were 355 casualties caused by mines and 510 by unexploded ordnance in 2005.
For the years from 1979 to 2005, more than 62,000 mine/ unexploded ordnance causalities were recorded, the reported said, adding about 30 percent of the victims were killed and the rest suffered injuries.
"Many of these survivors were maimed and are now disabled, having suffered grave injuries such as amputation, burns, blindness or paralysis," it added.
It is estimated that 4 million to 6 million landmines had been planted in Cambodia since 1967, and since 1992, as many as 40 of areas contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance have been cleared.
The report said that based on the achievements of mine clearance over the past 12 years, Cambodia may need at least 12 to 20 years more to just clear the highly prioritized areas.
Currently, there are four mine clearance operators in the country. They are two government agencies -- the Cambodian Mine Action Center and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces -- and two foreign demining organizations -- the Mine Advisory Group and HALO Trust, both based in Britain.
"Despite many years of clearance operations, the number of mine/UXO causalities has been stable for the last five years --about 800 to 900 per year," according to the report issued by the Cambodian Mine Action Authority.
The report said there were 355 casualties caused by mines and 510 by unexploded ordnance in 2005.
For the years from 1979 to 2005, more than 62,000 mine/ unexploded ordnance causalities were recorded, the reported said, adding about 30 percent of the victims were killed and the rest suffered injuries.
"Many of these survivors were maimed and are now disabled, having suffered grave injuries such as amputation, burns, blindness or paralysis," it added.
It is estimated that 4 million to 6 million landmines had been planted in Cambodia since 1967, and since 1992, as many as 40 of areas contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance have been cleared.
The report said that based on the achievements of mine clearance over the past 12 years, Cambodia may need at least 12 to 20 years more to just clear the highly prioritized areas.
Currently, there are four mine clearance operators in the country. They are two government agencies -- the Cambodian Mine Action Center and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces -- and two foreign demining organizations -- the Mine Advisory Group and HALO Trust, both based in Britain.
1 comment:
i knew long a ago, the funds is dead, and the money alwaye go the top...when the money gone ,,,the mines still there why and why..??
Post a Comment