Hope for a Safer Cambodia Through Mine Risk Education
When Rotha moved to her village at the age of 12, she quickly learned that life in rural Cambodia came with hidden dangers. Landmines from decades of conflict still lay scattered in the soil, threatening the lives of children and families trying to rebuild in peace. Now a mother of three, including a newborn baby girl, Rotha worries every day about her children’s safety.
She dreams of a future where they can run and play freely without red warning signs or the sound of distant explosions. Through APOPO’s landmine clearance and risk education work, that dream is slowly becoming possible.
In her own words, Rotha shares what life is like in a village still haunted by its past:
My name is Rotha. I am 37 years old. I first learned about landmines when I moved to this village at the age of 12. My mother brought me here, and over the years, I built my life in the community. I met my husband here, we got married, and I have lived here ever since. We have three children, and just three months ago, we welcomed a baby girl into our family.
My family is involved in agriculture and farming. We plant cassava and rice, using some of it to sustain ourselves while selling most of the cassava to buy other necessities. Farming is our way of life, but it is not without risks.
Near our house, there are red landmine warning signs. I always tell my children to be careful and warn them about the dangers, but I still worry because they want to play outside. I do not allow them to go near those areas, but children are naturally curious. I think it is very important to teach them about these dangers, and I hope that APOPO’s Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) team will come soon to educate them. As parents, we do our best, but it would be easier if all the children in the village learned the same information. While most of our neighbors do not let their children roam freely, I still see some kids running around, and it scares me.
When I was young, I remember children wandering into the bushes while looking after cows, searching for firewood, or simply being adventurous. Kids like to do things that are forbidden, and that makes landmines even more dangerous.
I also remember the fighting. We used to hide in shelters and hear the rockets outside. Those memories stay with me, and I do not want my children to grow up with the same fears.
I have seen many unexploded ordnance (UXO) in this area. Whenever I see people going into dangerous areas, I warn them, and they are always grateful. Five years ago, I saw a landmine for the first time. It was an anti-tank mine, and I was terrified. It was just behind our house, and we discovered it while plowing the land with a tractor. I immediately reported it to the local authorities, and that area has since been designated as a hazardous zone and is being cleared.
In this area, we have only had accidents involving cows, but that does not mean we are safe. When APOPO arrived, I told my children that these people were here to help us and to remove landmines from our land.
Sometimes, I wish I could live in a place without landmines. If our village were free from them, I would finally be able to tell my children to run and play without fear. After APOPO finishes clearing the land, my family might receive a plot. A man who owned a lot of land here passed away, and once the land is cleared, it will be divided among the people of the village. If we are given a piece, we will plant cassava, corn, or rice, depending on the soil quality.
Sometimes, I hear the explosions when MAG and APOPO conduct controlled detonations, and it always frightens me. Even though I know the landmines are being removed safely, my first thought is always that something terrible has happened. But I also feel relieved knowing that another dangerous device is gone.
If I could speak to the people who produce landmines, I would tell them to stop. We are at peace now, yet we are still suffering. These hidden dangers prevent us from living normal lives. We cannot see them, but they shape the way we live. We just want to farm, walk freely, and let our children play without fear.
I trust APOPO and MAG, their people, their rats, and their dogs. I want to sincerely thank them and all their supporters. Their work is changing our lives.
I hope my children will grow up to become teachers or doctors; people who can help others, just as APOPO is helping us today.
