Little heroes on four paws

The fight against the hidden danger lurking beneath Cambodia’s fields:

To this day, Cambodia remains one of the countries most affected by landmines in the world. Decades of armed conflict – particularly during the Khmer Rouge regime and the subsequent civil war – left millions of hidden explosive devices scattered throughout the country. Although the war has long since ended, its consequences still affect the population every day. Especially in rural areas, landmines pose a constant threat to children, farmers, and entire village communities.

According to estimates, tens of thousands of people have been injured or killed by landmines or unexploded ordnance since the 1970s. Many families depend on agriculture for their livelihood and are forced to enter fields where safety cannot be guaranteed. A single misstep can have life-altering consequences. The danger is often invisible: mines lie hidden in the ground for decades and are repeatedly exposed by rain, erosion, or construction work. Children, in particular, are among the most vulnerable groups. They often fail to recognize the danger or mistake unexploded ordnance for toys.

From a medical perspective, landmines also pose an enormous challenge. The injury patterns are often severe and complex. Typical injuries include traumatic leg amputations, severe soft tissue injuries, burns, and shrapnel wounds. Providing care in remote areas is particularly problematic, as valuable time is often lost before a hospital can be reached. Many victims lose large amounts of blood or suffer severe infections before medical help is available. For the treating doctors and nurses, this often means highly complex surgical procedures, lengthy rehabilitation, and intensive psychosocial support for the families.

In Siem Reap, I visited an organization dedicated to mine clearance. Specially trained giant hamster-rats are used to detect landmines. The animals have an exceptionally keen sense of smell and can reliably detect explosives. At the same time, they are light enough not to trigger mines – a decisive advantage over humans or heavy machinery. They also have the advantage of detecting only explosives. Without the animals, the land would have to be searched using a metal detector, whereby any metal (whether a coin, scrap metal, or a mine) triggers a signal and must first be treated as a mine until the object has been identified. This wastes valuable time. With the help of the rats, the process can be carried out about four times faster.

On site, an impressive demonstration was given of how the animals work. In a cordoned-off area, the rats move systematically across the ground and mark spots where they detect explosives. Experienced specialists then take over to conduct a detailed examination and safely recover and defuse the mines. The precision and efficiency of this work were impressive.

Cambodia has made significant progress in mine clearance in recent years. Nevertheless, much remains to be done. International support, medical care, and long-term prevention efforts remain crucial to ensuring that future generations can grow up in a safe environment. Mine clearance is far more than just technical safety work. Every mine found represents a piece of the future reclaimed: children can play safely again, families can farm their fields, and villages can continue to thrive. The work of these organizations not only saves lives but also creates opportunities for entire communities.

Warm regards from Siem Reap

Ila