Landmine casualties in Cambodia up 90 pct in first two months

[geovalin]

Casualties from landmines and unexploded ordnance have remarkably increased in the first two months of this year, a report of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority showed Tuesday.

The country reported 40 casualties, 6 people died and 34 injured, during the January-February period this year, up 90 percent from 21 casualties, 2 people killed and 19 injured, over the same period last year, the report said.

The Southeast Asian nation is one of the world's worst countries suffered from landmines. An estimated 4 million to 6 million landmines and other munitions left over from three decades of war and internal conflicts that ended in 1998.

Five northwestern provinces suffered the worst from landmines and unexploded ordnance are Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin and Preah Vihear.

According to the report, from 1979 to February 2014, landmines and unexploded ordnance had killed 19,690 people and either injured or amputated 44,664 others.

The country is seeking around 50 million US dollars a year until 2020 to entirely get rid of all types of anti-personnel mines, according to Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Center.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/854674.shtml

[my friend I]

That's terrible news. It never ends for these poor people..