Sotha hopes to get rid of these lethal leftovers of war. To achieve this goal, the center has a four-prong strategy focusing on awareness, verification, clearance, and training. The awareness campaign targets rural populations. Mine awareness teams travel to villages to teach children what mines look like and why they are dangerous. They also educate the local people about rescue techniques and how to get help.
Verification is at the heart of the Cambodian demining effort.
The process is very slow because much of it is done through interviews. But it is critical because it helps pinpoint where deminers should go. The search for minefields begins by asking villagers where they suspect mines may have been placed, says Sotha. We rely on what people recall they saw or heard many years ago. The anecdotal information then must be verified by talking to people living near areas suspected to be mined.