War Ends for Children When the Last Land Mine Is Cleared

April 5, 2021

Kimhong on the Safe Playfield at Stoeng Toch Krom Primary School, Battambang Province.

Kimhong had never played football before, but when she was invited to join a game with the other children living around Stoeng Toch Krom school, near Cambodia’s border with Thailand, she joined in.

What made this invitation special was that the school’s football ground had until recently been contaminated by landmines, a legacy of Cambodia’s many years of internal conflict. “I wish there are more safe playfields, so that the other kids can also play with safety.”

The conflict ended a few decades ago but the remnants of war still claim lives, and limbs. Children are most vulnerable. To clear that deadly legacy of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) scattered across the nation, requires commitment, support, and resources. 

Kimhong's Mother was Watching Kimhong Played Football Happily With Her Friends on the New Pitch.

For Kimhong’s mother, Thy, it was a special day too. Thy uses a prosthetic limb, after losing a leg to a landmine, several years ago. That has affected the life of her family. For as long as Kimhong can remember, she has had to help her Mum cook, clean, and do other housework chores, after school.

That day, as Kimhong played football with her friends on the new pitch, Thy sat on the sidelines, beaming.

In Cambodia, clearing the land of landmines is first and foremost about saving lives and protecting youth, like Kimhong. It is also about creating places free from fear, and an environment that is peaceful and  conducive to inclusive development.

Once cleared of mines, lands are released to local authorities, as was the case of the football ground, at Stoeng Toch Krom primary school. More often they are handed back to farmers and their families, many who live along Cambodia’s border with Thailand. The area was the last strong hold of the Khmer Rouge, and is still one of the world’s most heavily mine contaminated areas.

Among the countries helping the Royal Government of Cambodia clear landmines, is the Republic of Korea. A long-time development partner for the Cambodian people, Korea has become a high-income country in just over a quarter century, about the same time as the conflict in Cambodia came to an end.

Safe playfield at Stoeng Toch Krom Primary School, Battambang Province.

The Republic of Korea brings much needed financial support, but also contributes rich knowledge gained from its own experience of conflict recovery, as well as one of the world’s most remarkable transitions from low to high income country status.

The “Saemaul Undong” or New Village Movement, was a key part of Korea’s remarkable transition in less than a generation. This national movement was instrumental in improving conditions in rural communities, as it strengthened social cohesion. It significantly reduced rural poverty by increasing household incomes, improving basic infrastructure and services, revitalizing local communities, and empowering women.

Korea’s approach to mine clearance is not simply to maintain peace, but to build the foundations for prosperity. In Cambodia, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Korea has partnered with UNDP, to support the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA). The initiative is placed within a larger context of village development, following the successful example of Korea.

The Royal Government made a mine free Cambodia their 18th Sustainable Development Goal. In doing so, Cambodia firmly signaled that mine clearance is an integral part of the 2030 Development Agenda. That is a connection that is deeply understood in Korea and makes the new village model especially appropriate, here in Cambodia.

For children like Kimhong and her mother this a development story full of hope, peace, and the opportunity for prosperity. It is a story that can only be sustained with continued support and resources.

Written by:

Rho Hyunjun, Country Director, KOICA Cambodia

Nick Beresford, Resident Representative, UNDP Cambodia

The Phnom Penh PostWar ends for children when the last land mine is cleared

Thmey Thmey: សម្រាប់កុមារ សង្គ្រាមចប់នៅពេលដែលគ្រាប់មីនចុងក្រោយត្រូវបានបំផ្លាញ