Hundreds die as floods threaten rice harvest
Government and NGOs plan aid. Caritas is following the situation with great concern. At least 164 die in Cambodia with more than 200,000 families affected by monsoon rains. More than 330,000 hectares of rice fields covered in water. In neighbouring Thailand, 200 have died, with many dams brought to the breaking point.
Phnom Penh (AsiaNews) – The flood emergency continues in Cambodia following heavy rains across Southeast Asia. The government and humanitarian organisations, including FAO and Oxfam, have taken steps to help the population. However, damages are widespread and much of the harvest has been lost. Caritas has been closely monitoring the situation, very much “concerned” about what was happening. In Cambodia, the death toll now stands at 164. In neighbouring Thailand, where more than 200 people have died so far, rains and floods have brought many dams near the breaking point, raising fears of more serious consequences.
Cambodian authorities and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have begun planning emergency food rations, rice seed supply and technical assistance for agricultural rehabilitation in the most affected area, such as Kampong Thom province.
The authorities are waiting for waters to recede before a full estimate of damages can be done and long-term action undertaken.
The foreign minister is concerned that little will remain of the Kingdom’s annual target of three million tonnes of surplus rice.
Cabinet Chief of the National Committee for Disaster Management Keo Vy said yesterday that more than 215,162 families had now been affected and more than 20,000 families evacuated. More than 135,000 houses, 424 pagodas, 904 schools, 161 bridges, 75 healthcare centres, and 244 kilometres of road have also suffered damages.
Ministry of Agriculture director Ngen Chhay said 328,150 hectares of rice were under water and 111,373 hectares of rice had been completely destroyed.
Cambodia’s Catholic Church and Caritas are aware of the situation and are following events carefully and with concern.
Passengers on flights coming into the capital said they saw “a vast area covered by water” over the countryside. “You can see treetops here and there,” a Phnom Penh resident told AsiaNews. “In the countryside, people have gathered along the roads, waiting for the waters to recede.”
In Prey Veng, water covers the outside and inside a local Catholic school. Elsewhere in the province, various buildings, including facilities for the disabled and hospitals, remain isolated.
In neighbouring Thailand, things are getting worse. Here, flooding during this year's monsoon season has killed more than 200 people and affected at least two million people.
Weather forecasters say Thailand's monsoon rainy season this year has been the most severe in 50 years.
While the country has a network of dams and canals to contain the heavy rainfall, officials from the Royal Irrigation Department warn that several major dams are near their breaking point, with more torrential rain forecast in the coming weeks. (DS)
Cambodian authorities and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have begun planning emergency food rations, rice seed supply and technical assistance for agricultural rehabilitation in the most affected area, such as Kampong Thom province.
The authorities are waiting for waters to recede before a full estimate of damages can be done and long-term action undertaken.
The foreign minister is concerned that little will remain of the Kingdom’s annual target of three million tonnes of surplus rice.
Cabinet Chief of the National Committee for Disaster Management Keo Vy said yesterday that more than 215,162 families had now been affected and more than 20,000 families evacuated. More than 135,000 houses, 424 pagodas, 904 schools, 161 bridges, 75 healthcare centres, and 244 kilometres of road have also suffered damages.
Ministry of Agriculture director Ngen Chhay said 328,150 hectares of rice were under water and 111,373 hectares of rice had been completely destroyed.
Cambodia’s Catholic Church and Caritas are aware of the situation and are following events carefully and with concern.
Passengers on flights coming into the capital said they saw “a vast area covered by water” over the countryside. “You can see treetops here and there,” a Phnom Penh resident told AsiaNews. “In the countryside, people have gathered along the roads, waiting for the waters to recede.”
In Prey Veng, water covers the outside and inside a local Catholic school. Elsewhere in the province, various buildings, including facilities for the disabled and hospitals, remain isolated.
In neighbouring Thailand, things are getting worse. Here, flooding during this year's monsoon season has killed more than 200 people and affected at least two million people.
Weather forecasters say Thailand's monsoon rainy season this year has been the most severe in 50 years.
While the country has a network of dams and canals to contain the heavy rainfall, officials from the Royal Irrigation Department warn that several major dams are near their breaking point, with more torrential rain forecast in the coming weeks. (DS)
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Wave from Laos dam collapse hits Cambodia
27/07/2018 15:46
27/07/2018 15:46
