Cambodia Faces Combined Drought and Flood Disasters, Directs Measures for Rice Crop Recovery

Cambodia is grappling with significant agricultural damage, particularly to rice cultivation, following a combination of drought and heavy rainfall experienced in July. Deputy Prime Minister Kun Kim, First Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Disaster Management, chaired a meeting on August 5th to review disaster management efforts for July and outline plans for August, emphasizing the need for recovery measures. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Cambodia's weather patterns in July were erratic, with some regions experiencing prolonged drought due to irregular rainfall. This led to a reduction in water sources for irrigation, impacting the cultivation of rainy-season rice and other crops in several provinces. Despite these challenges, under the government's leadership, relevant ministries and authorities have intervened by providing emergency water to affected areas, striving to minimize crop losses for farmers. During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Kun Kim urged the leadership and technical officials of the National Committee for Disaster Management to thoroughly assess the potential for agricultural recovery in collaboration with the Cambodian Food Reserve Management Committee and relevant ministries. He noted that while the disaster situation in July was complex due to the combined effects of drought and sudden heavy rains, the committee continued to cooperate closely with ministries, institutions, sub-national authorities, and development partners to monitor, assess, respond, and intervene promptly to reduce the impact on citizens' livelihoods. Given that the country is currently in the rainy season with continuous rainfall, the Deputy Prime Minister advised leaders at all levels to continue preparing action plans and reserves to prevent risks from various natural disasters. He also requested leaders responsible for specific expertise to conduct on-site inspections of affected provinces and to check the equipment and tools of search and rescue teams, highlighting their crucial role in disaster response. The drought has affected nine provinces and the capital city: Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Svay Rieng, and Pailin. Approximately over 240,000 hectares of rice crops were impacted, with over 220,000 hectares being salvaged, while an initial 2,115 hectares suffered damage. Source: CPP Cambodia