The Australian government plans to give $12 million in landmine aid to Cambodia, the country's foreign ministry said Thursday.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs special representative for anti-landmines, Greg Hunt, said in a statement the $12 million will be distributed through Australia Aid for mine clearance over millions of square meters.
Cambodia is still littered with an estimated 6 million mines and tons of unexploded ordnance. About a third of all landmine victims—killed or disabled—are children, according the UN.
Cambodia Mine Action Center Director-General Khem Sophoan welcomed the aid, saying about 440 people died from landmine and unexploded ordnance accidents in 2006, a slight decrease over 2005.