APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR EMERGENCY AID FOR VICTIMS OF FLOODING IN CAMBODIA

September 30, 2011

APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR EMERGENCY AID FOR VICTIMS OF
FLOODING IN CAMBODIA

In my capacity as an elected representative of the Khmer people I
anguishly appeal to the international community, especially the
International Red Cross, all humanitarian and charitable organizations
as well as friendly governments, to urgently provide emergency relief
to victims of ongoing flooding in Cambodia.

Over the last few weeks, the floods in Cambodia’s portion of the
Mekong River have caused the death of at least 141 people while
affecting the life of over 170,000 people. Over 130,000 homes have
been inundated causing serious damages to the people’s properties and
means of subsistence.

Some 270,000 hectares of rice paddies representing 10 percent of the
country’s total rice crop have been affected with more than 60,000
hectares already declared completely lost. For millions of people in a
poor agricultural country who usually have difficulty making ends
meet, this will translate into food shortage in the very near future.

Thousands of evacuated families need emergency aid such as food,
shelter, drinking water and sanitation, while those stuck in flooded
homes mostly require food supplies.

I profoundly thank all people, all organizations and all nations for
their solidarity, their generosity and their compassion for the
Cambodian people in these trying times.

Sam Rainsy
Elected Member of Parliament