Cambodia holds a heartbreaking record: one of the highest numbers of landmine victims in the world. This tragic legacy is rooted in decades of violent conflict — from the U.S. bombing campaign during the Vietnam War, to the Khmer Rouge regime, and the civil war that followed. The scars of war were left not just on the people, but hidden beneath the soil itself.
Since 1979, over 65,000 Cambodians have been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs). With nearly 20,000 deaths and more than 45,000 injuries or amputations, landmines have devastated lives, robbed families of livelihoods, and restricted development in rural areas. In 2006, a study by the University of Sheffield identified Cambodia as having the highest per capita rate of landmine deaths, with 69 casualties per million people.
But Cambodia’s journey is not defined by victimhood — it is a powerful story of resilience, recovery, and global contribution.
Clearing the Path to Peace
For over three decades, Cambodia has undertaken one of the most ambitious demining efforts in the world. Working alongside international partners and NGOs, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) and local teams have cleared over 3,297 square kilometers (Bn 1.27 sq ft) of contaminated land, safely destroying more than 1.2 million landmines and more than 3 million UXOs. These efforts have restored safety and opportunity to over seven million people.
Originally targeting a mine-free Cambodia by 2025, the government has now extended the deadline to 2030, acknowledging the scale and complexity of remaining contamination.
Despite progress, the danger remains. In 2023, 32 casualties were recorded — a 22% decrease from the previous year — yet early 2024 brought a concerning 92% rise in landmine and UXO-related incidents. Many victims are still children, farmers, or unsuspecting villagers, proving that the fight is far from over.
From Victim to Peacekeeper
One of the most remarkable turns in Cambodia’s landmine narrative is its growing role as an international leader in humanitarian demining. Once heavily reliant on outside assistance, Cambodia is now sending its own trained deminers abroad under the United Nations “Blue Helmet” peacekeeping missions.
Since 2006, Cambodia has deployed thousands of peacekeepers — many of them trained in explosive ordnance disposal — to conflict-affected countries like Mali, South Sudan, Central African Republic, and Lebanon. These Cambodian troops, often survivors or descendants of survivors of mine accidents, now use their hard-earned expertise to protect others from the same invisible danger.
This transformation — from one of the world’s most mine-affected countries to a global contributor to peace and recovery — is both powerful and deeply symbolic. It reflects Cambodia’s enduring commitment not only to healing itself, but to helping others walk safely, too.
A Global Cause, A Shared Responsibility
Cambodia’s long and painful journey is also a call to the world. It reminds us that the consequences of war can last for generations — and that recovery takes more than time. It takes commitment, cooperation, and compassion.
As Cambodia edges closer to its mine-free goal, its story serves as both a warning and an inspiration. A warning of how conflict can linger long after the guns go silent. An inspiration of how a nation, with the support of others, can rise from the depths of tragedy to become a beacon of peace.
Let us continue to support Cambodia — and all nations still haunted by mines — so that future generations may live free of fear, and walk safely into their future.