SEOUL, March 16 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), South Korea’s state overseas aid agency, said Monday that it had signed an agreement with the Cambodia Mine Action Authority and the United Nations Development Programme to clear landmines in the Southeast Asian country.
Under terms of the agreement, the KOICA will clear landmines in Cambodia’s three northwestern regions including Battambang.
In these regions, the landmines that were buried during the Vietnam War and the Cambodian Civil War between 1960s and 1970s have caused casualties of about 64,000 people.
The KOICA plans to clear landmines covering an area of 5,682 hectares as part of US$10 million program that is expected to run until 2025. About 310,000 people are currently living in these areas.
The agency will dispatch professionals to help Cambodia strengthen its capabilities in detecting and clearing landmines, while supporting emergency medical care and rehabilitation of the victims there.
Image Credit: KOICA / photonews@koreabizwire.com
