PHNOM PENH, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Wednesday launched a mine action management information system ahead of its hosting of the fifth Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty later this year.
The system represents a significant technological leap in the nation's ongoing efforts to combat the remnants of conflict, providing a comprehensive solution to streamline mine clearance, victim assistance, and land release processes.
"This innovative system symbolizes a revolution in our approach to mine action -- a leap forward powered by the spirit of innovation and the unyielding resolve of the Cambodian people," Ly Thuch, a senior minister and first vice president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), said at the launch of the system.
"The Cambodia mine action management information system is not just a tool but a testament to what we can achieve when we unite for a cause greater than ourselves," he added.
Shathel Fahs, a demining expert with over 15 years of humanitarian demining experience in Cambodia and one of the developers of the system, described the innovation as a reflection of Cambodia's capacity for innovation and comprehensive operational coverage.
"The system is not merely a software application, it is the heartbeat of our mission to make Cambodia mine-free," he said.
"With the system, we're not just responding to the challenges of mine action, we're anticipating them, planning strategically, and acting decisively," Fahs added.
Cambodia is one of the worst affected countries by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs). An estimated 4 million to 6 million landmines and other munitions had been left over from three decades of war and internal conflicts that ended in 1998.
According to the CMAA's latest report, from 1979 to 2023, landmine and ERW explosions had killed 19,822 people and either injured or amputated 45,215 others, making Cambodia one of the countries with the highest number of casualties.
The Southeast Asian country is committed to achieving a mine-free goal by 2025. ■
