Phnom Penh (FN), November 8 - The United States ‎strongly committed to partnership with the Cambodian people in support of their goal to make Cambodia free from the humanitarian impact of landmines by 2025, and the shared goal of clearing U.S.-origin unexploded ordinance (UXO), according to David Josar, Deputy Spokesman of the US Embassy in Cambodia.

He added that to date U.S. have spent more than $131 million on the remediation of explosive remnants of war in Cambodia.  This work is one of the State Department’s top assistance priorities, and funding will continue to reflect the importance we place on this work.

"We will use 2018 resources to put in place a world-class removal program targeting U.S.-origin UXO in eastern Cambodia.  UXO experts have proposed that the United States devote more attention to clearing such UXO, in addition to our support for clearing the more lethal Chinese, Vietnamese, and Soviet land mines in western Cambodia.  We believe this program will respond effectively to this request,” said David Josar.

Heng Ratana, director general of Cambodian Mine Action Center, claimed that the United States has ceased aid, with an amount of $2.5 million per year for demining activities in Cambodia with unreasonable arguments.

Ratana, however, said that despite the lack of funds, the Royal Government of Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen and other development partners ensured that CMAC is not retreating.
=FRESH NEWS