Cambodia Launches EW4ALL Project in Banteay Meanchey to Strengthen Early Warning Systems

AKP Banteay Meanchey, September 18, 2026 -- Providing timely warning information to every citizen is not only about notifying them of impending disasters but is a crucial measure to help communities prepare, evacuate, and protect their lives and property before a disaster strikes. This was the key message highlighted during the workshop to launch the 'Early Warning for All' (EW4ALL) project in Cambodia. The workshop took place at the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Council meeting hall on the morning of September 18, 2026. It was presided over by His Excellency Prak Kimhong, Deputy Secretary-General, representing His Excellency Kim Virak, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the National Committee for Disaster Management; Mr. Khlok Nuy, Deputy Governor, representing His Excellency Oun Ratry, Governor of Banteay Meanchey Province; and Ms. Nong Rotana, Program Management and Monitoring Officer, representing the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The workshop was attended by provincial governors, deputy governors of districts and cities, relevant ministries and agencies, representatives of partner organizations, commune chiefs, village chiefs, and many other stakeholders. They gathered to discuss and understand the direction of implementing the early warning system, focusing on ensuring that disaster warning information reaches citizens in a timely manner and can be practically applied. Speaking at the event, His Excellency Prak Kimhong emphasized the importance of implementing the EW4ALL project, considering the early warning system to play a vital role in reducing the impact of disasters. Early and accurate warnings provide citizens and local authorities with the opportunity to take response measures before risks escalate into severe disasters. He pointed out that effective early warnings cannot rely solely on technology or a single notification system but require cooperation from all parties, from national institutions, provincial authorities, to district, commune, and village levels, and ultimately to the citizens. Accurate and timely information must reach those in at-risk areas to enable them to take rapid self-protection actions. Concurrently, he highlighted the need to strengthen the capacity of officials and stakeholders at the local level, as local authorities and communities are the most critical link in conveying national warnings to people in vulnerable areas. His Excellency Prak Kimhong also urged participants to apply the knowledge and experiences gained from the workshop to their respective areas to ensure that the early warning system is not just on paper or in plans but can function effectively when risks arise. Meanwhile, Mr. Khlok Nuy, Deputy Governor, representing His Excellency Oun Ratry, stated that the launch of this project in Banteay Meanchey province is a significant contribution to strengthening the disaster management and response capabilities of the provincial administration and local authorities. The Deputy Governor continued that disaster management work cannot wait until a disaster occurs to begin responding. Instead, the focus must be on preparedness, risk assessment, information dissemination, and early warnings to minimize losses to the greatest extent possible. Mr. Khlok Nuy further emphasized that the province will continue to promote cooperation between ministries, agencies, district, commune, village authorities, and development partners to ensure that warnings can reach citizens quickly, especially those living in vulnerable areas and vulnerable groups requiring special attention. In addition, Ms. Nong Rotana, Program Management and Monitoring Officer representing UNDP, spoke about the importance of partnership and cooperation among relevant institutions to ensure that the EW4ALL project can contribute to strengthening Cambodia's early warning system and provide tangible benefits to communities. She stated, "For All" means that no citizen should be left without warning information when a disaster is imminent. Therefore, strengthening dissemination, information sharing, and community participation are key points to focus on in the project implementation. Through this workshop, participants also exchanged knowledge and experiences and discussed the roles of institutions and local authorities in providing warning information, preparing contingency plans, and responding to disasters. Indeed, when a disaster occurs, time is the most critical factor. Receiving a warning just minutes or hours in advance can give a family the opportunity to leave a danger zone, rescue children, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals, and protect some property. Therefore, accurate and timely early warnings are part of the investment in community safety and resilience. By: Chun Sarath © Copyright [Year] National News Agency of Cambodia