Death toll from landmines in Cambodia down 43% in 9 months

Landmines had killed 21 people in Cambodia in the first nine months of 2013, a 43 percent drop compared with the 37 deaths over the same period last year, a report of the Cambodian Mine Action Authority showed Saturday. From January to September this year, 57 accidents were recorded, down 14 percent compared with the 66 accidents over the same period last year, the report said. Besides the deaths, during the first nine months of this year, 65 others were injured, down 39 percent from the 106 injuries over the same period last year, it added. 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. From 1979 to Sept. 2013, landmines had killed about 19,683 people and injured 44,606 others, the report said. Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodia Mine Action Center, has said that about 3.1 million landmines and unexploded ordnances have been removed and destroyed so far, and the country is seeking about 50 million U.S. dollars a year until 2020 to entirely get rid of all types of anti-personnel mines. The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday that the Japanese government will sign up to provide 9.1 million U. S. dollars to Cambodia for mine clearance and landmine victim assistance. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong will sign to receive the grant aid from Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Yuji Kumamaru on Monday next week, the ministry said.