Cambodia appeal 2002-2003 (01.31/2002)

Introduction

National context

The country is struggling to emerge from two decades of warfare, internal disputes and political instability. Former Khmer Rouge forces have been reintegrated into society and all refugees and IDPs have returned home or been resettled. Cambodia has regained its seat at the United Nations; the international community and potential donors resumed their assistance; and in April 1999 the country became the 10th member of ASEAN.

The country is largely dependent on foreign aid and investment. In 2000, the donor community pledged US$ 548 million and in 2001 US$ 615 million. Cambodia's most vulnerable people face major problems of food security, decreasing access to affordable health care, declining standards of living and poor access to elementary education.

Health conditions of the majority of the Cambodian population are alarming, especially among the rural poor, women and children. The country has one of the lowest health levels in the region. Diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, vaccine-preventable diseases, dengue haemorrhagic fever and malnutrition are the leading causes of child mortality. The health of women is not much better. Cambodia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region. Unsafe abortion, eclampsia and haemorrhage are the leading causes of maternal deaths.

Access to health facilities and the utilisation of existing health services remains a serious problem. Only 20 per cent of the population has access to a health facility, and only one out of every three pregnant women receives any semblance of prenatal care and assistance during delivery from trained health professionals.

Cambodia is also highly susceptible to natural disasters. Each year, floods of varying intensity affect the country along two major watersheds.

Data from Human Development Index (HDI), Human Development Report, UNDP 2001.

Data from Human Development Index (HDI), Human Development Report, UNDP 2001.

National society priorities

The Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) is the largest humanitarian organization in the country. It has a network of 24 Red Cross branches covering all provinces, municipalities and cities. It has recruited and trained 4,972 Red Cross volunteers (RCVs), 4,960 Red Cross Youth members and 20,000 members. The CRC cooperates closely with government ministries, especially in the field of health, education and youth, and disaster preparedness and disaster response.

The strategic goals of the CRC in 2001-2005 are:

• To strengthen the capacity building process of the Cambodian Red Cross at national, branch and community levels.
• To increase the self-reliance and sustainability of the Cambodian Red Cross.
• To improve the quality of life and capacity of the most vulnerable.
• To promote health, care and social welfare among the most vulnerable.
• To further strengthen internal, national and international relations and ensure a positive image of the Cambodian Red Cross.

The core programme and projects included in the CRC Five Year Development Plan 2001-2005 are:

Priority programmes for Federation assistance

In line with the CRC development plan, the following programmes are priorities for Federation assistance:

• Disaster response
• Disaster preparedness: community based disaster preparedness and flood mitigation
• Health and care in the community: community based first aid, community based primary health care, blood donor recruitment
• Promotion of humanitarian values: information and dissemination
• Organizational and resource development: national and branch development, North East branch and community development, resource development and Red Cross Youth
• Coordination and management.

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Footnote:

¹ These are preliminarv budget figures for 2003, and are subiect to revision in the course of 2002.