Battambang:Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has pledged ongoing emergency relief and recovery support for victims of recent widespread flooding that has impacted approximately 120,000 households across seven provinces and cities. Battambang Province has been the hardest hit, accounting for more than half of the affected population.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Prime Minister made these remarks during a distribution ceremony of rice seeds and food supplies to affected families in northwestern Battambang Province. He highlighted that this year's flooding was intensified by the rare combination of heavy rainfall and rising river levels. Specifically, over 60,000 families in Battambang have been affected, representing more than 50% of the nation's total affected population.
The Prime Minister underscored the Royal Government's dedication to standing with its citizens in times of crisis, emphasizing that government officials' presence alongside him served as a testament to this commitment. He assured the public that the Royal Government would never abandon its people, especially during such hardships.
Acknowledging the consecutive challenges faced by communities along the Cambodia-Thailand border, including border closures, incursions, and natural disasters, Hun Manet praised the resilience and strong spirit of the local population in overcoming these adversities. He further outlined the Royal Government's emergency response strategy, focusing on saving lives through evacuations, maintaining public health and welfare at temporary shelters, and executing post-disaster recovery efforts.
Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, the Prime Minister noted the tragic loss of eight lives in Battambang due to drowning and electrical accidents during the flooding. However, he highlighted the success of emergency operations that safely evacuated tens of thousands of residents and thousands of families to safety zones.