Cambodia is one of the most heavily mined areas in the world. Some estimates say there is a land mine for every individual living in Cambodia, which would mean there could be as many as 11 million land mines waiting to explode.
The country has one of the highest populations of amputee’s with over 40,000 people suffering due to mines. The number is still growing.
Battambang is in north west Cambodia and is one of the most fertile area of land in the country. However, it is also the most mined. When the Khmer Rouge finally retreated Phnom Penh they ran north west with the invading Vietnamese army advancing they planted millions of mines to hold them off. In return the Vietnamese armies planted land mines to stop the Khmer Rouge from ever returning. This area is Battambang.
Cambodia struggles to build its economy when its most fertile land is literally a mine field. Some specialists say it might take another 30 to 50 years to de-mine the country. In the meantime the amputees keep growing.