Richard Hughes, of Pearce, has been deployed to Cambodia for 12 months as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development.
BY JULIEANNE STRACHAN
The Canberra Times
11 December, 2011
LANDMINES have left a horrible legacy for Cambodia, with between 4-6million unexploded bombs still peppering the landscape and rendering vast tracks of agricultural land unusable.
Pearce resident Richard Hughes is part of a volunteer force trying to clean out the unexploded ordnance and restore some normalcy to a country that has endured decades of conflict.
''Landmines are designed to hurt not kill with the rationale that a wounded soldier is a heavier burden than a dead one,'' he said.
''In reality, landmines do not distinguish between soldiers and civilians - they are inherently indiscriminate weapons that inflict brutal injuries.''
Mr Hughes has been sent to Cambodia on a 12-month deployment as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development, which is funded by AusAid, volunteering with the Cambodian Mine Action Centre. The group tries to remove and destroy mines and save lives through education.
''It's incredible work that has made me re-evaluate my attitudes and assumptions about disability, ability, aid and development.
''In Cambodia more than 19,000 people have been killed and over 44,000 injured by landmines.''
He said many of the people who were working to solve the problem were victims themselves.
''From an individual perspective the impact on those who encounter landmines is devastating ... From a community perspective, the threat of landmines is equally debilitating. Vast tracts of land are rendered unusable, which is particularly concerning in a country that is predominantly agricultural,'' he said.
Mr Hughes said Australians could help Cambodia by supporting demining. To learn more about the project go to www.ausaid.gov.au/volunteers.
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