The silently devastating landmines of Cambodia
Clearing them is an incredibly slow, deliberate process
By
Lauren Hansen
Published

A landmine is detonated from a safe distance in Cambodia.
(Image credit: (Keith Lane)Traveling to Cambodia in 2009, Lane hooked up with a small NGO called Cambodia Self Help Demining that goes into remote villages clearing landmines left over from the Vietnam War)

A German S-mine, also known as a "Bouncing Betty," is found on a bike path. The landmine had been in the ground since the 1970s.
(Image credit: (Keith Lane))

A member of the CSHD team walks away from an area she was clearing.
(Image credit: (Keith Lane)Clearing the mines is incredibly slow, meticulous work. The workers, dressed head-to-toe in protective gear, go square-meter by square-meter, clearing high-traffic areas like bike)

The CSHD team heads into a minefield.
(Image credit: (Keith Lane))

CSHD team members head back into camp after going to town for supplies.
(Image credit: (Keith Lane))

Brush is gathered to help dampen a controlled explosion.
(Image credit: (Keith Lane))

Locals near the minefield set up a small fire and cook their evening meal.
(Image credit: (Keith Lane))

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Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.