Portfolio Cambodia

Country in Southeast Asia, 181,040 sq km. Population 2003 ca. 13.1 million. Population composition: Khmer: 90%, Vietnamese: 5%, Chinese: 1%, other 4%.

Cause and scope of the landmine problem
After three decades of armed conflict, Cambodia is one of the most mine/UXO contaminated countries in the world. With around 840 landmine victims annually, Cambodia experiences the third highest number of casualties worldwide. A landmine impact survey (LIS) was completed in 2002, revealing that 6,422 villages or approximately 5,1 million people were at risk from landmines and UXO contamination.

NPA history in the country
NPA’s presence in Cambodia dates from 1992 with the first deminers deployed to the North-West under UN auspices. Since 1993 NPA has provided technical assistance to the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC). In 1997, NPA was requested by the local authorities to assist in the resettlement of 5,000 displaced families on mine-free and demined land in the contaminated province of Beantey Meanchey.

In January 2007, upon request by Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority CMAA, NPA started the project called Empowering CMAA with objectives to assist the national authority (CMAA) and local operators (CMAC, army and police) in the process of analyzing, planning, dissemination and usage of mine action data.

As of April 2007 NPA offered a Post Impact Assessment possibility to CMAA in order to improve their Post Impact capacities.

Capacity
NPA presently provides one Technical Advisor (TA) to the CMAC Mine Detection Dog Programme, and NPA will also provide funding to and monitor the CMAC Demining Unit 1 Technical Survey in the Beantey Meanchey province, throughout 2007. Furthermore, NPA as of 2007 is providing one Technical Advisor on Information Systems that is assisting the national authority and local operators to streamline their information management systems.

The NPA Regional Programme Manager for Mine Action is stationed in Cambodia, coordinating and monitoring NPA mine action activities in the South East Asia region (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam).

As of April 2007 NPA provided one Technical Advisor on Post Impact Assessment with a capability to contribute to Socio Economic Impact related issues.

Donors
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs , US Department of State, The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (funding ends 2008)  and NORAD (ending 2007)

Links

Landmine Monitor for Cambodia:  http://www.icbl.org/lm/2007/cambodia.html

Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority: http://www.cmaa.gov.kh/

Cambodian Mine Action Centre: http://www.cmac.org.kh/