19 Cambodians killed by landmines, UXO in 5 months

Xinhua News Agency | Thu,2016-06-02 

PHNOM PENH, June 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 19 Cambodian people had been killed by landmines and unexploded ordnances (UXO) during the first five months of 2016, remarkably up from only eight deaths over the same period last year, according to an official statement on Thursday.

Besides the deaths, some 25 others were either injured or limps amputated during the January-May period this year, down 49 percent from 49 people over the same period last year, said the statement from the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority.

The latest incident occurred on May 24 in southeastern Prey Veng province when a war-left artillery shell exploded, leaving a grandfather and two of his grandchildren dead.

Cambodia is one of the most landmine-affected countries in the world. An estimated 4 to 6 million landmines and other munitions were left over from decades of war and internal conflict.

The Southeast Asian country needs about 338 million U.S. dollars within 10 years to entirely get rid of all types of mines and explosive remnants of war, according to the government. Enditem