The U.S. government plans to offer 8 million U.S. dollars from 2006 to 2009 for Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) to carry out its demining operation, CMAC head Khem Sophan told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Besides, said Sophan, the U.S. government also planned to help Cambodia build a demining school in Kampong Chhnang province to train CMAC staff members and Royal Cambodian Army Forces to match international standard.

Cambodia would conduct a mine-clearing seminar in March, 2007 and the U.S. government is scheduled to send participants to show the new technology of clearing mines and unexploded materials, he added.

The U.S. government already offered 1.8 million U.S. dollars for the non-governmental CMAC in 2006 and since 1993 it had provided Cambodia with about 40 million U.S. dollars of demining aid, said Sophan.

Since 1993, CMAC had demined land of about 166 square kilometers and found 340, 000 regular bombs, 600 anti-tank bombs and about 1.4 million pieces of unexploded materials, he said.

It was estimated that 4 milllion bombs still remained planted in Cambodia, he said.

Pailin city and Battambang province were currently the last battlefield of Cambodia's demining efforts, he added.

Cambodia has included demining action within its ninth Millennium Development Goal, considering mines as a major obstacle against its long-term development and poverty reduction efforts.

Source: Xinhua