Thousands of families have been hit by
heavy flooding in Cambodia as the Mekong River breached its banks in five
provinces and the capital Phnom Penh. Five other provinces were hit by
heavy rain and storms sweeping across the country.
Some 5,400 families are reported to
have lost their homes, and have been forced to seek shelter in makeshift
camps. Authorities say 45,200 families have been affected altogether, and
have confirmed the death of 15 people. Thousands of hectares of cropland
is under water and officials estimate that more than 63,000 hectares of
rice may be destroyed.
"This is a precarious situation because the flooding began before the harvesting of the seasonal crops," says Richard Neville, disaster preparedness delegate in the Federation Delegation in Phnom Penh. "This could easily threaten food security in the future."
The Cambodian Red Cross launched a local emergency appeal, and began distributing emergency relief supplies - rice, dry food, shelter and clothing - to meet the immediate needs of more than 9,300 families in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Kratie and Kampong Cham. In Kandal province, more than 1,000 families received emergency relief supplies of rice and clothing, while 47 particularly vulnerable families received household kits containing 21 different relief items from a Red Cross stock built up earlier in the year with ECHO funding.
The Cambodian Red Cross has received an official request from the government to provide assistance in six provinces as well as the capital. Its operation is being conducted in cooperation with local officials.
The flooding was a result of excessive rainfall in July, and the Mekong is still at a very high level. There is a real threat of further floods as the monsoon normally comes from September to November. Although floods are recurrent in Cambodia, this year's damage may be particularly devastating.
"The flood victims fear the consequences of having to take on new debts to sustain them until another crop can be planted and harvested," says Seija Tryninoksa, head of the Federation's delegation in Cambodia.
The economic impact was the predominant issue brought up by villagers in the affected provinces during a joint Federation and Cambodian Red Cross assessment mission along with the Provincial Committee for Disaster Management. The mission was to observe and assess the impact of flooding on victims, crops, livestock and infrastructure in isolated villages and in safe areas.
Early government warnings of the floods enabled people to prepare for the floods, but food stocks are dwindling.
"The isolated villages have no ready access to income and, with the total loss of crops, require food assistance. Education in safe health and hygiene practices would be of value," said Richard Neville. "Longer term needs may include further food aid, seeds to plant dry season crops and repair and rebuilding of local infrastructure," he added.
The five safe areas in Kampong Cham need safe drinking water, adequate latrines for the population, health screening, cleanup campaigns and sanitation and hygiene education, the assessment found.
The government of Cambodia has requested assistance with food relief, shelter material and medicines for malaria, fever and diarrhoea.