Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has committed US$6 million to further support mine clearance in Cambodia.
The commitment was underlined in yesterday's meeting between First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) H.E. Ly Thuch and SDC's Country Director Ms. Carin Salerno here in Phnom Penh.
The assistance is vital for Cambodia to realise mine-free status by 2025 which is a solid target of the Royal Government of Cambodia, according to H.E. Ly Thuch.
On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the vice president thanked the Switzerland's international cooperation for its continuous support to mine clearance mission in Cambodia.
Since 2013, SDC's assistance of US$7.2 million has enabled the clearance of mines from over 30 square kilometres.
Switzerland, continued H.E. Ly Thuch, is among the eleven countries that have supported the humanitarian intervention in Cambodia by far.
For 2019 alone, in addition to Switzerland, CMAA received assistance from the United Kingdom, Germany, United States of America, China and Ireland.
Since 1979, 880 square kilometres or about 55 percent of land surface with landmines in Cambodia have been cleared.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press