The United States has provided more than US$52 million to support The HALO Trust’s demining operations in Cambodia since 2000, helping clear hazardous land and return it to communities for agriculture and economic activity, according to official information.
During a recent visit to Siem Reap province, Aleks Zittle, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia, met with HALO Trust operational teams to review ongoing US funded mine clearance projects. The programme has cleared nearly 2,800 minefields, destroyed more than 142,000 explosive remnants of war (ERW) and released more than 227 square kilometres of land for community use.
Key Facts
- U.S. funding through HALO Trust: More than US$52 million since 2000
- Minefields cleared: Nearly 2,800
- Explosive remnants of war destroyed: More than 142,000
- Land released: More than 227 square kilometres
- Location of recent visit: Siem Reap province
- U.S. official: Aleks Zittle, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia
- Implementing organisation: The HALO Trust
- Main beneficiaries: Local communities and families using cleared land for agriculture and economic development
U.S. Cambodia Mine Action Partnership Continues
The latest visit highlights the continuing role of mine action in the broader partnership between Cambodia and the United States.
During her visit to Siem Reap, Zittle met with operational teams from The HALO Trust to review demining activities supported by U.S. funding.
According to the information released by the U.S. Embassy, Washington has invested more than US$52 million in HALO Trust missions across Cambodia since 2000.
The funding has supported operations aimed at removing landmines and other explosive remnants of war from areas where contamination has affected communities and restricted the productive use of land.
Nearly 2,800 Minefields Cleared
The programme has cleared nearly 2,800 minefields since the beginning of the U.S. funded partnership with HALO Trust in 2000.
More than 142,000 explosive remnants of war have also been destroyed.
The clearance has released more than 227 square kilometres of land, allowing local families to use areas that were previously considered dangerous.
The scale of the land released is roughly equivalent to the size of Washington, D.C., according to the information provided by the U.S. side.
From Dangerous Land to Economic Opportunity
Mine clearance is not only a humanitarian activity. Returning contaminated land to communities can also support agriculture, infrastructure, livelihoods and local economic development.
For families living in areas affected by explosive remnants of war, cleared land can create opportunities to cultivate agricultural land and carry out economic activities without the same level of explosive risk.
Cambodia has increasingly linked mine action with broader development objectives. The country's newly launched National Mine Action Policy 2026 to 2035 places greater emphasis on what communities can do with cleared land, rather than measuring progress solely by the amount of land cleared.
That policy sets a vision of a Cambodia free from the impact of explosive ordnance and connects mine clearance with food security, rural development, poverty reduction, infrastructure and improved living standards.
U.S. Support Extends Beyond HALO Trust Operations
The more than US$52 million cited for HALO Trust missions represents one component of wider U.S. assistance to Cambodia's mine action sector.
In September, the U.S. Embassy said U.S. supported mine clearance operations had returned more than 714.6 million square metres of contaminated land to local communities since 1993. It also reported that U.S. financial assistance for Cambodia's broader mine action effort had reached US$235 million since 1993, including US$13 million in 2026.
This broader figure covers U.S. support beyond the HALO Trust missions referenced in the latest announcement.
The United States has also worked with Cambodian institutions and other mine action organisations, including the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) and the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC).
Cambodia Still Needs International Support
Despite decades of progress, Cambodia continues to address the legacy of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
The CMAA has said international funding and cooperation remain important as the country works toward its long term mine action objectives. In August, the authority said mine clearance operations were continuing nationwide through national operators and international organisations with support from the Royal Government, donors and development partners.
The challenge also includes newer contamination in areas affected by more recent conflicts. In September, representatives from Cambodian institutions and international mine action organisations, including The HALO Trust, met in Siem Reap to discuss the impact of cluster munitions from the 2025 conflict and safety efforts in affected areas.
What Happens Next?
The latest U.S. supported operations are expected to continue contributing to Cambodia's wider mine action efforts, particularly by returning contaminated land to productive community use.
The long term objective is not simply to clear individual minefields, but to ensure communities can safely use the land for agriculture, infrastructure, livelihoods and economic development.
Cambodia's National Mine Action Policy 2026 to 2035 provides the broader framework for that effort, while continued support from international partners remains important for addressing the remaining contamination.
Data Table
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| U.S. funding for HALO Trust missions | More than US$52 million |
| HALO Trust partnership period cited | Since 2000 |
| Minefields cleared | Nearly 2,800 |
| ERW destroyed | More than 142,000 |
| Land released | More than 227 sq km |
| Broader U.S. mine action assistance | US$235 million since 1993 |
| U.S. mine action support in 2026 | US$13 million |
The first five figures are from the latest U.S. Embassy information supplied for this report. The broader U.S. assistance figures are from the U.S. Embassy information reported by AKP.
Angkor Times Analysis
From a development perspective, the significance of the U.S. Cambodia mine action partnership goes beyond the number of mines destroyed. The more important outcome is the conversion of previously dangerous land into an asset that communities can use for farming, infrastructure and economic activity.
The figures also show why international partnerships remain important to Cambodia's mine action strategy. More than three decades of clearance have produced substantial progress, but the country is still dealing with remaining contamination and newer explosive threats in some areas.
For Cambodia's rural economy, successful clearance can support more than physical safety. It can improve access to agricultural land, reduce restrictions on local development and create conditions for communities to invest in productive activities. The success of the next phase will therefore increasingly be measured by what families and businesses can safely build and develop on land after clearance.
Sources
- Agence Kampuchea Presse, September 14, 2026, based on information concerning the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia and Aleks Zittle's visit to Siem Reap.
- U.S. Embassy in Cambodia information cited by AKP on broader U.S. mine action assistance.
- Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority information on continuing international mine action support.
- Cambodia National Mine Action Policy 2026 to 2035 information reported by AKP.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has the United States provided to HALO Trust demining operations in Cambodia?
The United States has invested more than US$52 million in HALO Trust missions across Cambodia since 2000, according to the information supplied for this report.
How many minefields have been cleared through the programme?
Nearly 2,800 minefields have been cleared through the U.S. supported HALO Trust missions cited in the announcement.
How much land has been released?
More than 227 square kilometres of land have been released for local communities.
How many explosive remnants of war have been destroyed?
The programme has destroyed more than 142,000 explosive remnants of war.
Why is mine clearance important for Cambodia's economy?
Clearing contaminated land can allow families to safely return land to agriculture and other productive uses while supporting infrastructure, livelihoods and local economic development.
Is the US$52 million the total U.S. mine action assistance to Cambodia?
No. The US$52 million figure specifically concerns U.S. investment in HALO Trust missions since 2000. The U.S. Embassy separately reported that broader U.S. financial assistance for mine action in Cambodia reached US$235 million since 1993.
What is Cambodia's current mine action target?
Cambodia's National Mine Action Policy 2026 to 2035 envisions a country free from the impact of explosive ordnance, with mine action connected to sustainable livelihoods, development and community safety.