Sweden’s government will provide over SEK 26 Million for the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) to continue its operation to clear mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Cambodia.
The bulk of the money, some SEK 20 Million, for use from 2003 to 2005, is planned for general operations. The rest was slated for training people and mine-sniffing dog teams, said CMAC deputy director general Heng Rattana to Vietnam’s news agency VNA.
Sweden is one of the countries providing funds to CMAC for mine-clearance operations and UXO destruction through the UNDP Trust Fund.
A resolution on the funding agreement is being formulated and will be submitted to the representatives of the two governments for formal approval as soon as possible, announced Heng Rattana.
CMAC can however already access the funds as the Swedish government has signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Recently, a Swedish delegation visited Phnom Kravanh district in Pursat province, where the Fifth Demining Unit is stationed to assess progress of CMAC. The delegation, accompanied by Heng Rattana, went to see the dog team mine detection operation.
