Concern appeals for funds as 2 million
people are affected by the worst flooding in 30 years.
Severe tropical storms over Cambodia
and Vietnam have resulted in serious flash flooding in the Cambodian province
of Kompong Speu. In response, Concern has stepped up its response to the
Cambodian floods and announced its intention to begin emergency and relief
work in this latest affected province, located 40km south of the capital
Phnom Penh. Those wishing to donate money to Concern, can do so by telephoning
18 50 480 680.
Concern is now delivering emergency relief to flood victims in four Cambodian provinces. All four are provinces in which the agency has long established development programmes: Kompong Chhnang, Pursat and Siem Reap and now, Kompong Speu. The agency has already allocated =A3350,000 to the relief operation in Cambodia. Prior to this latest outbreak of flooding, Concern had been delivering emergency aid to some 36,000 people in Kompong Chhnang, Pursat and Siem Reap.
The agency estimates that at least 70,000 people in 187 villages have been affected in Kompong Speu. Close to 9,000 hectares of rice / land crops have also been destroyed. According to Mark Capaldi, Concern's country director in Cambodia, the navy has already been called in "to evacuate people trapped in trees and to assist in transporting people to make-shift camp sites in dry portions of the National Highway, No. 4."
"Concern is now responding to floods in four provinces of the country through food and shelter distributions and agricultural rehabilitation (rice seed for replanting). However, the protracted length of the flooding, the recent downpours and the resulting damage to roads and bridges has slowed down our relief distributions. It is now proving difficult to get supplies trucked out of Phnom Penh to the needy areas," said Mr Capaldi.
This is the worst flooding to hit the country in 30 years and the government says some 2 million people nationally are in need of help. The World Food Programme has warned that if the waters do not recede soon, it will be impossible for farmers to replant for next year, leading to serious food shortages.
Author: Macdara Doyle
Phone: 1850 410510
email: info@concern.ie
Date: Friday, 20 October 2000
Concern, Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2.