Land Mine Clearance Work in Cambodia
The number of land mines laid in each country (as of 1998):
1. Egypt 23 million
2. Iran 16 million
3. Angola 14 million
4. Afghanistan 10 million
5. China 10 million
6. North Iraq 10 million
7. Cambodia 6 million
8. Vietnam 3.5 million
There is one particular Japanese who is engaged in mine removal work in Cambodia.
Mr. Ryoji Takayama, born in Ehime Prefecture of west Japan in 1947, first went to Cambodia as a member of a special battalion of Japanese Self-Defense Forces that was formed for a PKO operation in Cambodia between 1992 and 1993.
In 2002 Takayama retired from office to join Japan Mine Action Service (JMAS), a specified nonprofit corporation specializing in mine clearance work in Cambodia, Laos, Angola, etc. Then he moved to Cambodia to launch an organization to remove land mines. Takayama left JMAS in 2010 while he became an adviser to Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) run by the Cambodian Government. In 2011 Takayama was appointed to an adviser for recovery and reconstruction by the Batdambang government of Cambodia.
Now he is head director of International Mine Clearance and Community Development, an NPO Takayama established for his activities in Cambodia (http://www.imccd.org/aboutus.html).
Cambodia is a country in located South East Asia that has a major problem with landmines, especially in rural areas. This is the legacy of three decades of war which has taken a severe toll on the Cambodians; it has some 40,000 amputees, which is one of the highest rates in the world.[1] The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) estimates that there may be as many as four to six million mines and other pieces of unexploded ordnance in Cambodia.
Finding the location of the mines with no witness or map record is a very difficult task that needs very specific tools, and demands a lot of time, and trained staff, and therefore also a lot of investment.
"In Cambodia, 87% of surviving landmine victims are males over 15 years old, with a mean age of 28 years. In Afghanistan, 73% are males between ages 16 to 50, and 20% of the victims are male children."
The National Level One Survey in Cambodia conducted in 2002 found that 20% (2776 out of 13908) of all villages in Cambodia are still contaminated by minefields and/or cluster bomb areas with reported adverse socio-economic impacts on the community.
The Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA) was established in late 2000. The CMAA regulates and coordinates all mine action activities, and establishes policies and procedures. Currently, there are four (main) demining organizations working in Cambodia - The Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), The HALO Trust, and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG).[11] CMAA estimates that the combined cost for demining operations, including technical assistance and in kind contributions for Cambodia are approximately $30 million per year.[12] Experts also estimate that Cambodia will need another 10 to 20 years to clear the mines if the current level of funding is maintained.Ryoji Takayama also supports Children learning Japanese in villages in Cambodia. And he and his NPO help one Cambodian young woman learn in a university in Japan. More young people might learn Japanese and come to Japan for further study.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_mines_in_Cambodia
In 2010 the number of Japanese businesses that register with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia was about 50, but now it is over 100 while it is estimated that about 130 Japanese businesses operate in Cambodia. In deed, more and more companies might move their plants from China to Cambodia.
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Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?