The ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) in collaboration with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining – GICHD, and the Government of Ireland, organised and hosted an ASEAN regional training on “Operational Efficiency in Mine Action” to be held from 19-24 August 2019 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

To underscore much of the rationale for the training, the GICHD stated that improving operational efficiency in mine action is a fundamental task as “resources for responding to mine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination problems are costly, limited and precious.”

Ultimately, the training will seek to provide participants with a foundation of knowledge that they can bring back to their respective countries and mine action programmes so that the overall ASEAN mine action sector can be made both more efficient and effective.

On 15 November 2017, ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) staff conducted an internal training titled “Introduction to Mine Action”, delivered by the Mine Action Expert, Mr. Sam Oum, Project Manager of Humanitarian Disarmament Program Cambodia, Norwegian People’s Aid. The training was held in the permanent secretariat of ARMAC in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The full-day training provided a basic understanding of humanitarian mine action and why it is necessary to conduct mine action in Southeast Asia. He underlined that “Humanitarian Mine Action goes beyond demining/mine clearance, and involves the development aspects, especially towards the affected people. Thus, plan and look forward to upcoming opportunities.”

The landmines/ERW have been defined as a threat to people’s safety, a constraint to the socio-economic development, and a humanitarian problem in the Southeast Asia region. Furthermore, there are at least 6 (six) countries that are directly affected by the landmines/ERW in ASEAN. Thus, the overall mine action programs bring urgency in the region and the full-operationalisation of ARMAC is necessary.