Cambodia reports 33 percent decline in landmine casualties in first half

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Thursday reported 112 landmine casualties in the first half of this year, represented a decrease of 33 percent from 167 casualties in the same period last year, according to the report from the Cambodian Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Victim Information System.
   From January to June this year, landmines had killed 25 Cambodian people and injured 87 others, said the report, adding that 75 percent of the victims were men, 18 percent were boys, and 7 percent were women and girls.
   Since 1979 to June 2011, a total of 63,918 mine/ERW casualties were recorded. Of the casualties, 19,600 were killed and 44,318 injured from mine/ERW accidents.
   Cambodia is one of most mine affected nations in the world as the result of 30 years of armed conflict. Mines had been laid in Cambodia during the decades of chronic conflicts from the late 1960s to the mid-1990s.
   Cambodia's five most mine-laid provinces are Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin and Preah Vihear.