AKP Phnom Penh, April 10, 2026 --

Cambodia’s primary demining agency cleared more than 4,000 hectares of land contaminated by explosives in the first quarter of 2026, as the country grapples with a surge in unexploded ordnance following the 2025 Thai invasions.

H.E. Heng Ratana, Director-General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), reported the figures during a quarterly review Thursday in Siem Reap. He noted that while long-term demining efforts continue, recent hostilities have left a fresh "legacy of war," with 75 villages still facing significant contamination across 3,500 square kilometres.

According to CMAC data, the first three months of the year saw the destruction of 11,838 landmines and unexploded submunitions. The agency has prioritised "polygon" mapping in high-risk zones, identifying over 3,000 sites specifically affected by cluster munitions – a total area of roughly 2,300 square kilometres.

To combat the risk to civilians, CMAC has mobilised a 14,000-strong volunteer network to conduct mine-risk education. In the first quarter alone, these teams reached 200,000 residents and responded to nearly 2,000 emergency calls to dispose of newly discovered explosives.

The clearance operations are vital for Cambodia’s rural recovery. Officials stated that the reclaimed land has already benefited 356,000 families, allowing for the safe resumption of farming and the construction of schools and pagodas in previously inaccessible border regions.

By K. Rithy Reak