Phnom Penh, 8 June 2026 — The Government of Australia and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today signed a Contribution Agreement to support the Royal Government of Cambodia's recovery efforts for families affected by the Cambodia–Thailand border conflict in 2025, which displaced more than 640,000 people and disrupted essential services across several provinces.

The signing ceremony, held at the office of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority in Phnom Penh, was attended by His Excellency Dr Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice-President of CMAA, His Excellency Mr Derek Yip, Ambassador of Australia to the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Mr Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia.

Australia's contribution of AUD 1.5 million, delivered through the Clearing for Results (CfR) Phase V project, will support land release, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), and livelihood assistance to enable the safe return of displaced populations and support socio-economic recovery efforts. The support will focus on the four provinces most affected by the recent Cambodia–Thailand border conflict and ongoing contamination: Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear.

The contribution will directly support the release of 4.4 square kilometers of contaminated land, directly benefit more than 9,700 people and provide EORE to 18,000 community members. In addition, it will provide livelihood support to 400 displaced households whose homes, farms and small businesses have been affected by explosive ordnance, helping them restore incomes and rebuild their lives.

His Excellency Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice-President of the CMAA, stated: “Australia has been one of Cambodia’s most trusted mine action partners since the early 1990s. With this new contribution, Australia’s total support to the Clearing for Results programme will reach AUD 45.31 million, reflecting more than three decades of partnership and shared commitment to saving lives and advancing sustainable development in Cambodia. Under the visionary leadership of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and through the strong collaboration between the Royal Government of Cambodia, Australia, UNDP, and CMAA, this partnership has reduced the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war, returned land to communities, and created opportunities for livelihoods and economic growth. Mine action is ultimately about people. Its true impact is measured not by the land cleared, but by the lives transformed through greater safety, dignity, and hope for Cambodian families and communities.”

His Excellency Mr Derek Yip, Ambassador of Australia to the Kingdom of Cambodia, said: “Australia has had a long and proud history in demining in Cambodia. From support provided during the peace process to our sustained partnerships on mine action over the decades that followed, Australia is pleased to have been a longstanding and dependable supporter of Cambodia’s efforts to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war. Our efforts will continue to focus on work in the physical rehabilitation sector, which supports many Cambodians, including landmine survivors. Australia has made a final contribution of AUD$1.5 million to Clearing for Results with a focus on supporting clearance and livelihoods for communities affected by the border conflict.”

Mr Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia, said: "UNDP highly values Australia's longstanding partnership and commitment to Cambodia's mine action sector. Building on nearly two decades of collaboration with CMAA and drawing on UNDP's global expertise and experience in mine action and recovery, UNDP remains committed to supporting Cambodia's mine action efforts and ensuring that cleared land translates into greater safety, livelihoods and development opportunities for communities."

This contribution will be delivered through the Clearing for Results Phase V, a multi-donor project funded by the Governments of Cambodia, Australia, Italy, Luxembourg and New Zealand and implemented by CMAA and UNDP to support Cambodia's efforts to address the legacy of landmines and explosive remnants of war while contributing to recovery, resilience and sustainable development.