AKP Phnom Penh, March 04, 2026 --

Cambodia has formally called upon the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC) and international development partners to expand their commitment to the nation’s demining operations and survivor assistance programmes, a senior official announced Wednesday.

Senior Minister H.E. Dr.  Ly Thuch, First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), issued the appeal during high-level talks in Phnom Penh with ARMAC Executive Director Ms. Buth Ratana and Mr. Rejib Dakua, Country Director of Humanity & Inclusion (H&I).

The discussions centred on intensifying regional cooperation and the refinement of national guidelines to support survivors of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). The meeting highlights Cambodia's transition from immediate clearance to a comprehensive, long-term social integration model.

H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch emphasised that under the administration of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, the Royal Government of Cambodia has shifted its focus toward a "dignity-first" strategy. 

This approach integrates the rights of persons with disabilities into the core of national law, ensuring survivors are not merely beneficiaries of aid but active participants in society.

"Our responsibilities extend far beyond the physical removal of mines," H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch stated. "We are committed to ensuring long-term care, mental health support, and sustainable livelihoods for survivors and their families."

The Senior Minister expressed gratitude for the technical and humanitarian contributions of ARMAC and H&I, noting their essential roles in: Providing prosthetics and mobility aids; Addressing the long-term psychological trauma of ERW accidents; Creating economic pathways for survivors to re-enter the workforce.

H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch urged the international community to maintain its momentum, noting that enhanced cooperation is vital to easing the fiscal burden on the state while achieving critical humanitarian milestones.

By K. Rithy Reak