Kambodscha: Erster Monat ohne Kriegsrest-Unfall

Quelle: Cambodia Daily

Deaths and injuries from old landmines and unexploded ordnance over the first six months of the year fell nearly 60 percent compared to the first half of last year, and included one month with no recorded casualties at all for the first time in memory.

Old mines and ordnance, left over from decades of war stretching from the late 1960s to the 1990s, killed six people and injured 26 from January to last month, according to records kept by the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA). Over the same period last year, they killed or injured a total of 51 people.

CMAC deminers and their dogs take a quick break in the shade before another trip into the minefield in Battambang province’s Bavel district in June last year. (Enric Catala)

This year, CMAA recorded no deaths or injuries at all in March, the first time it has done so in many years, possibly since its records began in 1979, the year the Khmer Rouge was overthrown.

Heng Ratana, director-general of the CMAA’s demining arm, the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), said annual figures were much more telling because monthly numbers could vary wildly and were heavily influenced by luck.

Still, Mr. Ratana said he was not aware of any other month without a single casualty and welcomed the achievement.

“When we see zero casualties that’s always a good sign,” he said.

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