MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce Australia will contribute a further $2 million for
landmine clearance in Cambodia.
The funds will be provided through a UNDP-administered donor trust fund to
support Cambodia's only indigenous de-mining organisation, Cambodia Mine Action
Centre (CMAC). This brings total Australian funding for CMAC since 1994 to $24
million.
Landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to have a major impact on the
people of Cambodia, both in terms of casualties and in limiting access to
essential services and infrastructure.
Casualty rates were recently measured at around two per day, compared with
more than five times this in 1996, but there is still a lot of work ahead. Some
4500 square kilometres of land remains contaminated by landmines or unexploded
ordnance, affecting 46 per cent of villages in Cambodia.
Most vulnerable to landmines are Cambodia's poor because they tend to occupy
marginal land that is more likely to be mine affected.
Australia's support for CMAC is contributing directly to reducing the
vulnerability of Cambodia's rural poor. It is also helping to increase their
productivity and incomes.
Reducing vulnerability and increasing the productivity and incomes of the
rural poor are key objectives of the new Australia-Cambodia Development
Cooperation Strategy.
Mr Downer is in Cambodia for the annual ASEAN Regional Forum meeting.
Contacts:
Chris Kenny (Minister's office) 02 6277 7500 or 0419 206 890
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489