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Cambodia Diary
04-10 December , 2003
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The HALO Trust normally moves demining sections from a completed minefield to a new one. A new task is demined depending up on the submitted demining work plan of HALO Cambodia programme and beneficiary requirement from villagers or local authorities for their community developments on post-clearance area.
I am Nget Heal, 32 years old, living in Ou Ambel village, Toek Thla commune, Serey Sophoann district, Banteay Meanchey province. I married in 1997 and have 2 children whom one of them is going to school. Before working as a HALO deminer, I was a farmer earning a little money. With the lack of financial support for my family I decided to work as a HALO deminer in 2003. So far I have been working in 4 minefields including Roka Bos Village 2 which is being demined by F46 Zero Landmine Campaign sections and I have so far found a few mines. At first I felt afraid with the work but now I trust demining tools basically detector and HALO Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) that makes every deminer confident in.
At the beginning of December cycle, my section is moved to this new task called "Roka Bos village 2". I am so happy to learn that the same donor still continues their funding to the HALO Trust for the removal debris of war from the ground. Demining in Roka Bos village 2 minefields aims for safe resettlement, safety enhancement for the people living in and near minefield as well as pupils from the school nearby.
Well, today the clearance speed is 7 sqm (a bit slow) due to the dense vegetation and metallic soil in front of my lane. Interestingly, this afternoon, after a 10-minute break I continued demining procedure as usual. There, it happened. I asked myself "Buddha! What a great sound!" I mean it was the loudest signal I have ever heard so far. So I isolated and investigated it carefully. "Oh! Fourteen 60mm and two 82mm mortar rounds lying together! That is why the signal is so great" I murmured to myself. After that the section commander and field officer were informed to check prior to having them demolished.
Generally speaking demining is a hard and risky job, but I am happy to work for HALO Trust since it has made my life better. On the other hand, we as deminers are very proud that our work under your support here helps this poor community from mine threat. At last I would like to thank you for funding.
Best regards,
Khann Khoeun
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