Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD)

Unexploded Ordnances, also known as UXOs, are found throughout Cambodia daily. They can resurface near villages, roads, or schools. When this happens, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team is called in to disarm and dispose of the device.

Picture left are UXOs unearthed on a minefield in the Kampong Thom Province of Cambodia. UXOs just like these are typically what cause severe or fatal injuries because, unlike land mines, many people believe that they can disarm without the help of an EOD expert.

The Cambodian Self Help Demining Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team is comprised of 6 highly skilled individuals who have undergone extensive training and testing. The work closely with the Mine Action Planning Unit (MAPU) in Cambodia, local police, village chiefs, and village communes.

How does it work?

When a landmine or ordnance is found, the CSHD EOD Team receives a phone call either directly from those who found it, or from the local authorities. The team will then plan when to go out to check the area. The team receives many calls from different areas during the day, and they plan ahead of time where to go. Once out, the team determines if the reported item is safe to move. If it is safe to move, it is relocated to a safe area and destroyed; if it is not safe to move, it is destroyed in place. The team will typically conduct Mine Relief Education (MRE) after the item is destroyed and will leave the direct contact phone number to the village.

What is Mine Risk Education?

CSHD strongly supports educating villages in the proper protocol after the discovery of landmines or ordnance. Mine Risk Eduction (MRE) can take place anywhere, from rice fields with a few villagers and children, to schools or villages with hundreds in attendance. MRE usually takes about an hour and a half. During that course, the MRE, EOD, or CSHD Teams who are teaching the course will explain who they are, what they do, and why MRE is important. After this, the teams will show a war video and then a powerpoint on landmines and ordinance. Using these tools, everyone in attendance will see the dangers of these items and learn how to avoid them, what to do if one is found, and about the Cambodian law that prohibits activity with these items (production, distribution, transfer, etc.).

After the class is conducted, the team holds a question and answer session and provides all those in attendance with stickers, notebooks (pictured right), and t-shirts with the images of landmines and ordnance so that they are better able to identify the items in the future.

More About EOD

EOD Teams

Demining Team EOD

Demining Team EOD is funded by Good Hands (in association with the Korean International Cooperation Agency) and Landmine Relief Fund. This team works with the demining team in clearing minefields. 

Team 2

EOD Team 2 was our first mobile team, meaning that they respond to calls around the country to remove UXOs and Landmines that are not in previously report minefields. Their operations are funded by World Without Mines.

Team 4

EOD Team 4 is also a mobile team, and they are funded by World Without Mines.

Team 6

EOD Team 6 travels around Cambodia conducting  Explosive Ordinance Risk Education (EORE) classes. 

Team 3 – in memory

EOD Team 3 was a mobile team funded by World Without Mines. On Monday, January 10th, 2022, during a call-out in the Preah Vihear Province, an explosion killed three out of four of the members of EOD T3. The memory of Ma Simet, Mong Jok, and Son Vong is preserved in their wives and young children. En Poy, who narrowly survived a similar type of accident as a child, is the sole survivor but sustained injuries that placed him in the hospital. This was the first accident to claim the lives of our deminers. We have taken the necessary steps to prevent future accidents. Deminers work tirelessly to make Cambodia safe from landmines and unexploded ordinances that were scattered throughout the countryside decades ago. Once the land is clear, schools are constructed so a new generation can thrive. Please help support our work and the families of the men we lost by donating to our GoFundMe. A little goes a long way. None of this is done alone. 

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