Two Cambodian Toddlers Killed in Explosion of Old Grenade

PHNOM PENH, Feb 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Two young children in Cambodia tragically lost their lives when a rocket-propelled grenade, believed to have been buried since the country’s civil war, exploded near their home. The incident occurred on Saturday in a remote village in Siem Reap province, which had once been a battleground between Cambodian government soldiers and Khmer Rouge forces in the 1980s and 1990s.

The victims, both two years old, were cousins – a boy and a girl. According to Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), the toddlers were playing outdoors and digging the soil when they likely struck the grenade with an object, triggering the explosion. One child was killed instantly, while the other succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

Heng Ratana expressed his sorrow, stating, “The war has completely ended and there has been peace for more than 25 years, but the blood of Cambodian people continues to flow because of landmines and the remnants of war.”

This tragedy comes amid a troubling backdrop. Earlier this year, Cambodia had to partially halt its demining efforts after the United States suspended funding following an order from President Donald Trump. However, on Friday, Cambodian authorities announced that demining operations would resume after the U.S. granted a waiver to continue the funding.

Cambodia’s history with landmines is long and painful. After over 30 years of civil conflict, the country was left among the most heavily mined regions in the world. The legacy of war continues to haunt Cambodia, with deaths from mines and unexploded ordnance still occurring regularly. Since 1979, around 20,000 people have been killed by these remnants, and double that number have been wounded.

The Cambodian government had set a target to be mine-free by 2025, but has since delayed this goal by five years due to financial constraints and the discovery of new minefields along the Thai border. Approximately 1,600 square kilometers of land still require demining, leaving around a million Cambodians at risk.

The demining process remains a crucial task for Cambodia, with officials continuing to push for international support to address the ongoing danger posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.