![]() ![]() ![]() The main routes are all well worn and the cities are largely untouched by the problem. It's when you step outside the main tourist areas that you're taking a risk, so here are a few considerations you might want to take on board before you head off to explore the unexplored on your own. How to avoid landminesįor tourists, the threat is much less than what the locals may contend with. The Cambodian Mine Action Authority reports that 64,713 people have been injured (including amputation) or killed since 1979 when the Khmer Rouge lost power due to the invasion of Cambodia by Vietnam. In 2015, 111 people were impacted by mine or UXO explosions. From January to November 2017, 51 people were either injured or killed by landmines or UXO compared with 77 from the same period in 2016. With the increase in de-mining initiatives across the country, the rate of casualties has reduced considerably. ![]() Locals are also being educated by de-mining organizations on the risks of landmines and UXO particularly in eastern Cambodia, where the concentration of devices is higher. Pretty impressive.Īdditionally, Cambodian Mine Action Center uses sniffer dogs and has its own breeding program set up to continue the next generations of front-line detection dogs. These amazing rats are trained to sniff for TNT explosives with accuracy, and can search 2,152 square feet (200 square meters) in just 20 minutes rather than the one to four days it would take a human.Īs of August 2017, these furry little heroes have sniffed out more than 4,500 mines and 36,000 bombs, grenades, and bullets. Due to their small and lightweight size, they are able to search across unchecked areas for landmines removing the risk for humans whose weight would set a landmine off. Since 2016, Tanzanian organization, Apopo, working alongside the Cambodian Mine Action Center, has put Gambian pouched rats (African Giant Pouched Rats) to work sniffing out landmines and UXO. In one demining program, they have also chosen to enlist the help of the animal kingdom to find and remove mines safely. Back in the initial days, it was trial and error but now with the advent of better detection technology and skills, there are considerably fewer demining personnel being injured or killed. Over time, the removal of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) has become safer and more refined. Around 15 Cambodians are injured or killed every month – a shocking statistic in a country no longer at war. The mines were spread throughout the country over several decades and a significant portion of the land which is suitable for farming is still inaccessible. Mines are even found in the streets of small remote townships, with unsuspecting locals living on top of them for years before they're discovered. Around five million are estimated to still remain around the country, and Cambodia has one of the highest numbers of amputees caused by unwittingly standing on a mine. Landmines were laid in Cambodia by the Vietnamese, the Cambodian government and the brutal Khmer Rouge in the 1980s and '90s and continue to have a devastating impact on the people of Cambodia. Shares Facebook Twitter Photo © Getty Images/BeyondImages Please note that not all content is translated or available to residents of all countries. ![]() By telling us your country of residence we are able to provide you with the most relevant travel insurance information. ![]()
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