Grenade Explosion Kills Two Cambodian Cousins

Two two-year-old cousins, Muo Lisa and Thum Yen, were tragically killed by an explosion of a 25-year-old rocket-propelled grenade in northwestern Cambodia's Siem Reap province, an area historically marked by conflict between Cambodian government forces and Khmer Rouge rebels. Their parents were unaware of the buried unexploded ordnance, a remnant of conflicts that littered Cambodia with 4-6 million such munitions. Despite over 25 years of peace, unexploded ordnances continue to cause fatalities, with nearly 20,000 deaths since the end of the fighting and 49 deaths recorded last year alone. The incident highlights the ongoing danger posed by landmines and unexploded munitions, exacerbated by a temporary pause in demining operations due to a freeze in U.S. foreign aid, although efforts are set to resume. The Cambodian Mine Action Centre, which identified the explosive, expressed regret over the deaths, emphasizing the dangers of aging explosives becoming more volatile over time. Cambodia aims to be mine-free by 2025 but continues to face challenges in demining efforts.