The Hero In Cambodia's Minefield From Africa Breathed His Last, Leaves Lasting Memories

Minefield warning signs in Cambodia. (Wikimedia Commons/(WT-en) Jpatokal)

JAKARTA - Cambodia is a country known for its deadly minefields, the effects of the country's civil war, with simultaneous efforts being made to clear them years after the war ended.

One of the figures who can be considered a hero in helping clear minefields in Cambodia is Magawa. In five years of service, he was able to find more than 100 landmines and explosives.

Taking his last breath last week, Magawa left a lasting legacy of the lives saved in the Southeast Asian nation. Become a deep memory for those who have been with him.

Magawa is the most successful 'HeroRAT' or 'Hero Rat' deployed by the international charity APOPO, where they use the African giant marsupial rat to detect land mines and tuberculosis.

"Magawa was in good health and spent most of the last week playing with his usual enthusiasm. However, towards the weekend he started to slow down, take more naps and show less interest in food in his final days," the nonprofit explained in a statement. statement. statement, citing Reuters January 12.

Illustration of an anti-personnel mine in Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Wikimedia Commons/Mx. Granger)

Wounded by decades of civil war, Cambodia is one of the world's most land-mine countries, with more than 1,000 sq km (386 sq mi) of land still contaminated.

It has the highest number of amputees per capita, with more than 40,000 people losing limbs to explosives.

Illustrating the extreme risk involved, three Cambodians working to clear mines were killed last Monday in Preah Vihear province, which borders Thailand.

Three citizens of the Cambodian Self-Help Mine group were killed by explosions from an anti-tank mine, which also injured two others, said Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodia Mine Action Center.

APOPO said Magawa's contribution enables communities in Cambodia to live, work and play more safely.

"Every discovery he makes reduces the risk of injury or death to the Cambodian people," APPO said.

The giant African marsupial rat received a gold medal in 2020 from the UK's People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, for "courage to save lives and dedication to duty".

To note, Magawa, who retired in June 2021, was born in Tanzania and moved to Siem Reap in Cambodia in 2016 to start clearing mines.

"A hero is buried," closed APPO.