Sao Som, left, and Mao Song, workers with the Cambodian Red Cross, show residents of five villages in Prey Veng Province how to use, clean and maintain water filters supplied by Mennonite Central Committee. Villagers came by boat and by foot to get the water filters. — Photo by Michael Bade/MCC
By Linda Espenshade, Mennonite Central Committee
AKRON, Pa. — As the worst flooding in a decade begins to recede in Cambodia, the work of obtaining food and clean water and the long-term rebuilding of livelihoods is under way with assistance from Mennonite Central Committee.
Sao Som, left, and Mao Song, workers with the Cambodian Red Cross, show residents of five villages in Prey Veng Province how to use, clean and maintain water filters supplied by Mennonite Central Committee. Villagers came by boat and by foot to get the water filters.
During September and October, monsoon rains caused the deaths of more than 240 people and displaced as many as 32,000.
Rice fields were destroyed after being underwater for more than four weeks. The loss of the crop not only affects the farmers but also people who work in the fields and sell produce at roadside stands. Grazing areas have been washed away.
Some people in Prey Veng province, one of the poorest and hardest-hit areas, are being forced to sell off assets and use what little savings they have to buy food, clean water and medicine and to pay school fees.
MCC is responding to targeted areas of need in Prey Veng with $30,000 for rice distribution, clean drinking water, school repairs and education.
“It is a quiet, slow-moving disaster now. It will hit the poor hard, and it will take most people years to rebuild,” said Michael Bade, an MCC worker from Seattle.
“Fruit trees are dead, houses are damaged, irrigation canals and ponds collapsed — infrastructure that took a decade to build up after the last big flood will have to be repaired and replaced in many areas.”
In partnership with Angkearhdei Primary School, where MCC has a Global Family education sponsorship program, MCC is making structural and furniture repairs.
MCC is providing daily breakfast and clean water at the school to keep students attending. An additional stipend is being paid to teachers so they will make up four to six weeks of class time lost to the flooding.
On Dec. 2, Red Cross Cambodia distributed 261 water filters purchased by MCC to families still surrounded by flood waters. The problem is acute because the same water used for washing and drinking is used as a latrine, Michael Bade said.
Dirty water, sick animals used for food and other unhealthy eating conditions are causing health issues in other parts of Prey Veng too. MCC’s response includes cleaning wells, distributing hygiene kits and training teachers at Angkearhdei about hygiene and sanitation practices.
Through local partner Love Cambodia, MCC will deliver two-week supplies of rice to more than 800 families in Prey Veng Province. The province was 90 percent covered by flooding for more than 30 days.
By Linda Espenshade, Mennonite Central Committee
AKRON, Pa. — As the worst flooding in a decade begins to recede in Cambodia, the work of obtaining food and clean water and the long-term rebuilding of livelihoods is under way with assistance from Mennonite Central Committee.
Sao Som, left, and Mao Song, workers with the Cambodian Red Cross, show residents of five villages in Prey Veng Province how to use, clean and maintain water filters supplied by Mennonite Central Committee. Villagers came by boat and by foot to get the water filters.
During September and October, monsoon rains caused the deaths of more than 240 people and displaced as many as 32,000.
Rice fields were destroyed after being underwater for more than four weeks. The loss of the crop not only affects the farmers but also people who work in the fields and sell produce at roadside stands. Grazing areas have been washed away.
Some people in Prey Veng province, one of the poorest and hardest-hit areas, are being forced to sell off assets and use what little savings they have to buy food, clean water and medicine and to pay school fees.
MCC is responding to targeted areas of need in Prey Veng with $30,000 for rice distribution, clean drinking water, school repairs and education.
“It is a quiet, slow-moving disaster now. It will hit the poor hard, and it will take most people years to rebuild,” said Michael Bade, an MCC worker from Seattle.
“Fruit trees are dead, houses are damaged, irrigation canals and ponds collapsed — infrastructure that took a decade to build up after the last big flood will have to be repaired and replaced in many areas.”
In partnership with Angkearhdei Primary School, where MCC has a Global Family education sponsorship program, MCC is making structural and furniture repairs.
MCC is providing daily breakfast and clean water at the school to keep students attending. An additional stipend is being paid to teachers so they will make up four to six weeks of class time lost to the flooding.
On Dec. 2, Red Cross Cambodia distributed 261 water filters purchased by MCC to families still surrounded by flood waters. The problem is acute because the same water used for washing and drinking is used as a latrine, Michael Bade said.
Dirty water, sick animals used for food and other unhealthy eating conditions are causing health issues in other parts of Prey Veng too. MCC’s response includes cleaning wells, distributing hygiene kits and training teachers at Angkearhdei about hygiene and sanitation practices.
Through local partner Love Cambodia, MCC will deliver two-week supplies of rice to more than 800 families in Prey Veng Province. The province was 90 percent covered by flooding for more than 30 days.
No comments:
Post a Comment