Cambodia Wednesday sent 52 soldiers to clear mines in Sudan for UN peacekeeping mission to replace the old ones.

This group is the fourth batch of troops that Cambodia has sent for humanitarian affairs under the UN mission to Sudan, said Sem Sovanny, director of National Center of Peacekeeping Forces, Mine and UXO Clearance.

He said that the 52 soldiers will take turns for 135 soldiers who will come back from Sudan on Friday.

"Beside helping mines and UXOs clearance for UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur region, you all have to help other humanitarian affairs in Sudan like purified clean water, digging wells and housing for local people," Pol Saroeurn, General Commander in Chief said in farewell ceremony at Pochentong Airbase.

"You all have to display good image of Cambodia in this operation," he said.

"We all thanked for the Cambodian government that has the strong commitment for this contribution for the peace and stability of the world," said Teruo Jinnai, acting president for UN agencies and representative of UNESCO to Cambodia.

Cambodian soldiers who were sent to Sudan, as well as other ones who are prepared to be sent to Chad and Central Africa in the near future, have been trained with the UN standard by trainers from other countries, mainly the United States.

Cambodia is one of the countries suffered from the unexploded ordnance (UXO) and mines, and last year about 265 people were killed and wounded by the UXO and mines. Millions of mines and UXOs still laid under the ground of the country posting a threat to the lives of the people.

Source: Xinhua