According to the mainstream Cambodian newspaper The Phnom Penh Post, on September 2, the Cambodian government officially introduced the 'National Mine Action Policy 2026-2035'. This is a ten-year comprehensive action plan aimed at clearing all identified mines and explosive remnants of war from Cambodia.
The main measures of this policy include improving the efficiency of mine clearance operations, conducting educational programs on landmine risks, providing assistance to victims of explosives incidents, improving data management, promoting gender and environmental issues as mainstream considerations, building domestic operational capabilities, and strengthening international cooperation.
This outline specifically includes border areas in its scope. These regions were covered with remnants of war explosives during the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand last year.
According to the Cambodian department responsible for mine clearance and victim assistance, from the early 1960s to 1998, decades of continuous warfare left Cambodia filled with explosive hazards. Since 1979, more than 65,000 people have been killed or injured.
Since the initiation of humanitarian mine clearance work in 1992, Cambodia has cleared 3,541 square kilometers of contaminated land. As of December 2025, demining personnel have discovered and destroyed over 1.2 million anti-personnel mines, 26,700 anti-tank mines, and 3.24 million items of war-related explosive remnants of war.
Despite these achievements, the challenges remain severe. Currently, Cambodia still has about 557 square kilometers of land with mine hazards, 663 square kilometers affected by cluster munitions, and another 529 square kilometers at risk of having other war-related explosive remnants.
The above statistical data does not yet include all the survey results being carried out along the Thai-Cambodia border, nor does it include comprehensive research data on the dropping of cluster bombs.
This new national policy aims to complete the clearance of all known minefields by 2030, thereby contributing to social and economic development and enhancing Cambodia’s international reputation.
Its ultimate goal is to eliminate all known cluster munitions and war debris in key areas by 2035.
