Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia, November 20, 2020 – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), in cooperation with the Cambodia Adventist Mission and local authorities, conducted food distribution, cash transfer, and rice seeds assistance to 575 families who are affected by the ongoing flooding in Kampong Svay and Phneit communes in Sereisophoan district, Russei Kraok commune in Mongkol Borei district, and Takong commune in Malai district of Banteay Meanchey province.
Since early October, Cambodia has experienced heavy rainfall across much of the country. By 21 October, about 156,137 households in 14 provinces, including Phnom Penh, are reported to be affected by flashfloods. In these areas, houses, infrastructure (roads, schools, healthcentres) and agricultural land have been inundated. The worst affected are Battambang (66,088 households affected, 4,592 displaced), Banteay Meanchey (29,225 households affected, 4,567 displaced), and Pursat (28,349 households affected, 1,934 displaced). There have also been at least 31 deaths attributed to the floods.
ADRA’s emergency response team and the local Seventh-day Adventist Church in Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia have been working with both government authorities and Humanitarian Reponse partners to identify and assist those in need.
With support from the ADRA Network, after an initial rapid assessment,the ADRA team assisted 180 poor and vulnerable households who were impacted by the flooding from 5 villages in Kampong Svay and Phneit communes in Sereisophoan district and Russei Kraok communes in Mongkol Borei district. On Sunday October 25, these 180 families received food assistance kits including rice, ramen noodles, canned fish, oil and salt to supplement basic needs. Peth Lun received a kit and stated, “The food kit will be a necessity for our family amid this flooding for several days before the flood goes away. Thank you so much!” Following this, further evaluation was conducted and additional assistance is being provided to 400 families – 55 of the initial 180 families and an additional 345 households in 8 villages. They are currently receiving cash assistance of USD35 to meet their food security and health needs. An additional 50 households from Takong Commune, Malai District, received 100 kgs of rice seed on November 11 to replant their rice crops which were destroyed by the floods.
Mark Schwisow, ADRA’s country director in Cambodia, shared that “ADRA is so thankful for the generous support of our donor network and the hard work and dedication of the local ADRA and Seventh-day Adventist church teams in making this assistance available. Whether long term development or the immediate needs of the current crisis, ADRA will be there to restore hope.”
For more information about ADRA’s response in Cambodia, visit https://www.facebook.com/ADRACambodia.
