Japan pledges $11m for Cambodia mine clearance

PHNOM PENH, Jan 12, 2026 (KPT) — Japan has pledged 1.7 billion yen (about $11 million) to support Cambodia’s mine clearance and victim assistance programmes, officials said Monday.

The funding was formalised at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Phnom Penh through an Exchange of Notes signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Japanese Ambassador Ueno Atsushi.

Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC), represented the Cambodian side.

The project, “Integrated Mine Clearance and Victim Assistance (Phase 3)”, will run for two years from January 2026 to January 2028, targeting Battambang, Pursat and Koh Kong provinces.

Officials said it is expected to directly benefit more than 27,000 households, with wider support for surrounding communities. CMAC will deploy over 350 personnel to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance.

The initiative will also provide advanced equipment, including mine flails, detectors, drones and AI enabled data systems, alongside small scale development projects for affected residents.

Heng Ratana expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Hun Manet and Prak Sokhonn for securing the assistance, and thanked Japan for its continued humanitarian support through funding, technical resources and equipment.