Key facts
- Humanitarian demining organizations in Asia are experiencing donor fatigue.
- Funding is being redirected from older conflicts to active war zones like Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.
- Landmines and unexploded ordnance from past wars continue to pose a threat in Southeast Asia.
- The U.S. has experienced fluctuations in demining aid to the region, affecting trust.
- Children account for over 40% of civilian casualties from landmines globally since 1999.
Humanitarian demining efforts in Asia are facing a critical funding shortfall as international donors increasingly divert resources to active conflicts and rising defense budgets. Organizations like Cambodian Self Help Demining, which clear landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) left from past wars, are struggling to continue their vital work.
En Poy, who lost an arm and an eye to a landmine in Cambodia and later survived a second explosion that killed colleagues, now educates others on avoiding these dangers. He expressed concern about the future of demining efforts if funding ceases, emphasizing that the job is far from finished. Cambodia remains one of the world's most land-mined countries, with Laos being the most heavily bombed per capita in history, and Vietnam still dealing with the fallout of chemical weapons.
Since the end of these conflicts, landmines and UXO have killed approximately 90,000 people and wounded nearly twice that number across these three nations. These remnants of war obstruct development by blocking infrastructure projects like roads and schools. Children are particularly vulnerable, accounting for over 40% of global civilian casualties since 1999, according to the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor.
Demining is a slow and dangerous process, involving surveying, clearing vegetation, and locating and destroying explosives. Charles Ray, a Vietnam War veteran, highlighted that these devices become more dangerous over time as they deteriorate. He also noted that U.S. funding for demining demonstrated a commitment to helping nations rebuild.
From 2020 to 2024, global funding for humanitarian demining totaled $4.3 billion, with foreign aid comprising the majority, primarily from the U.S., Germany, the EU, Norway, and Switzerland. However, recent conflicts have created a surge in demand for demining services. Ukraine received a third of all humanitarian demining funding in 2024, surpassing all other countries. Active conflict zones like Yemen and Gaza have also seen increased funding, as have demining efforts in Syria, Sudan, and Afghanistan, while some Asian nations receive less.
Germany is contemplating a reduction in foreign aid to bolster its defense spending and support for Ukraine. Concurrently, new landmines and bombs are being deployed in ongoing conflicts, such as the civil war in Myanmar and border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand. While funding can fluctuate, major crises continue to be prioritized, leaving older and smaller mine action projects struggling.
U.S. demining aid to Southeast Asia has been inconsistent, particularly under the Trump administration, which included a 90-day freeze on foreign aid. This inconsistency has eroded decades of built trust. While the U.S. has allocated significant funds for war-legacy programs in Vietnam, past freezes have weakened confidence in U.S. commitments, according to Nguyen Khac Giang. A U.S. State Department spokesperson stated that American assistance is not charity and that humanitarian demining aid will continue.