ACT member Church World Service Cambodia (CWS) reports that
the combination of floods and drought are of major concern as the
country's most vulnerable populations could face food shortages next
year. More than 1.5 million people in 9 provinces have been affected
by the drought. Officially only 50% of cultivated areas have been
planted with rice and there are fears that all this could be destroyed.
Late rains have brought some relief to eight drought stricken provinces,
but extensive flooding in another five provinces has affected more
than one million people. This is the third consecutive year of disastrous
floods in Cambodia and the cumulative effect of that and the drought
this year has had a catastrophic effect on food production.
CWS has carried out initial damage and needs assessments in their
working areas in Svay Rieng, Kompong Thom, Battambong and Bantey Meanchhey,
and found that the rice seedling and transplanting phases have been
severely damaged if not totally destroyed.
ACT CO is currently working on a proposal from CWS Cambodia in response
to the needs of the most vulnerable population in the CWS working
areas. The proposal comprises assistance to save what is left of the
crop and replant where there is enough rainwater. Secondary crop production
will also be encouraged and supported in areas where there is little
rain so that people will have some food to eat.
In response to the concerns of food shortage during the coming three
months CWS proposes supporting rehabilitation and mitigation measures
with Food for Work in the most affected areas. The estimated budget
will be around US$ 140,000.
