Earth that should nourish an impoverished population is too dangerous to plant too risky to plow or even walk upon. People go hungry while the earth lies fallow. Even worse, innocent people are maimed, mutilated, and murdered on a regular basis because of these insidious devices. Although peace nominally came to Cambodia four years ago, buried mines are no respecters of treaties. Many who don't die of the injury succomb to resulting infections due to lack of adequate health care.
Medical facilities are too few and too far away for the heavily rural population.
Thanks to landmines, Cambodia presently has over 36,000 amputees, one among every 200 residents. Nor is Cambodia unique. The U.N. estimates that some 110 million lethal explosives are presently lurking in 64 countries. Removal is hazardous, tedious, and expensive. Nor do such figures address the price of rehabilitation for those who are maimed.