APOPO Cambodia was recently honored to host a visit from a Belgian government delegation, including Sarah Gasquard, Deputy Head of Mission for the Belgian Embassy in Thailand, and Marc Fransen, a Desk Officer Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The visit focused on APOPO’s efforts to tackle the issue of landmines in Cambodia, with the support of the Belgian government through the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD).
Belgian Delegation’s Insightful Visit to Minefields
The delegation’s itinerary began at the Koh Ker temple area, a recently-listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, where APOPO’s technical survey dog (TSD) teams, in partnership with the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), are actively involved in demining. This initiative is crucial for ensuring the safety of both future tourists and local communities, and is supported by the Belgian government.
The partnership with the Belgian government has been instrumental in APOPO’s mission to clear landmines in various Cambodian provinces. This collaboration has facilitated the safe development of agricultural land and the protection of key cultural sites like the Preah Vihear Temple, for example.
The context of this mission is underscored by Cambodia’s history of landmines, a dire legacy of its past conflicts. The country remains one of the most mine-affected in the world, with a significant number of mines and unexploded ordnance posing a continuous threat.
VIP Tour of the APOPO Visitor Center
The Belgian officials also participated in a VIP tour of the APOPO Visitor Center in Siem Reap. The center offers a comprehensive insight into how APOPO’s HeroRATs are trained to sniff out landmines. It includes a live demonstration in a simulated minefield, and a detailed account of the history of landmines in Cambodia. It has been a popular stop for tourists and allows our work in Cambodia reach a wider audience while generating an additional source of income for our demining program.
Additionally, Michael Raine, APOPO’s Program Manager for Cambodia, also presented at a DGD end-of-year review. His presentation, alongside colleagues from CMAC, and attended by the Belgian delegation, highlighted the developments and impact of the support from the Belgian government.
“Overall our Belgian visitors were very impressed with the work we are doing and were particularly happy to see our dog teams in action,” said APOPO’s Cambodia Program Manager. “They now understand how both the dogs and the rats work and the progress we have made in Cambodia, despite the challenges faced.”
The delegation’s visit followed the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between APOPO and the Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC) for 2024, reaffirming the parties’ commitment to working towards a mine-free Cambodia in partnership with the DGD.
APOPO Mine Action Cambodia expresses its deepest gratitude to the Belgian Government
whose support has been a pillar in the success of our landmine clearance program.
