PHNOM PENH, Jan. 10 — Cambodia said on Saturday that the United States will provide multi-million U.S. dollars in aid to support displaced families, mine clearance and combating online scams.
Michael George DeSombre, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, announced the aid during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, said a press release from the prime minister’s spokesperson unit.
DeSombre was in Cambodia to help fortify a fragile ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand.
“He announced that the United States will provide 15 million U.S. dollars in assistance to support displaced families along the borders of both countries, as well as 10 million U.S. dollars for demining and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance in Cambodia,” the press release said.
“DeSombre announced that the United States will provide 10 million U.S. dollars in assistance to support Cambodia’s capacity-building efforts in combating online scams,” the press release added.
For his part, Hun Manet reaffirmed that Cambodia consistently values peace and remains firmly committed to resolving border issues through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, treaties, conventions, and bilateral agreements.
He expressed the hope that the United States would continue to encourage both parties to fully implement the ceasefire to secure the safe return of civilians to their homes without obstruction and the resumption of the Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary to conduct surveys and demarcate the land boundary as a foundation for long-term peace.
Cambodia and Thailand agreed to an immediate ceasefire on Dec. 27 after three weeks of armed conflict, which caused casualties on both sides. (Namibia Daily News/Xinhua)
