| Years of civil war since the 1970's have left Cambodia littered with landmines. 40,000 vicitims of landmines are alive in Cambodia today and countless others have died. Over a thousand people were vicitms last year alone, a rate of about 3 a day. Many people don't even make it to the hospital, dying of their wounds on the way. And the ones who are saved have years of painful surgery, rehabilition (if it is available) and an equally big fight against the social stigma associated with having the bad karma one is thought to possess in order to have met with such an accident. Cambodia has the highest amputee rate in the world at about 1 person in 250. You see them everywhere - in the streets, in the markets, and at temple of Angkor, begging for money from tourists there. It seems impossible sometimes, but something can be done. And good people with good organizations are doing great work in Cambodia and in many other countries laden with landmines around the world. I encourage everyone to help in any way they can. Some of my favourite NGOs are The and The International Campaign to Ban Landmines, both on the web. |
