Reuters AlertNethttp://www.alertnet.org
27 Apr 2009
Source: Action by Churches Together (ACT) - Switzerland
Elisabeth Gouel
Website: http://www.act-intl.org/
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
Alert
Cambodia - No. 10/2009
ACT responds to Preah Vihear border conflict
Geneva, 24 April 2009
On 3rd April, fighting was re-ignited on a long-disputed section of the Thai-Cambodia border near Preah Vihear and is now escalating to the north-west province, leading to displacement of over 500 families, with numbers rising. According to the Cambodian provincial authorities, over 520 families (1,660 individuals) are currently taking shelter in a camp for displaced persons in Sa-Em village, about 20 kilometers from Preah Vihear.
These displaced persons include 277 families from Prasat village whose houses were burned to the ground, and another 243 families from Kor Mouy and Svay Chum villages, many of whom were vendors from a market burned to the ground in the initial fighting. With military movements on both sides of the border and the populations of two villages in Banteay Meanchey, Banteay Ampil District are also fleeing the fighting.
CWS staff on the ground report that their rapid assessment of the situation (as of April 13th) for the most affected displaced families reveals urgent needs for the worst affected displaced families which include emergency shelter, food, non-food relief items, hygiene promotion, latrines and health services.
Continuous rainfall in the IDP camp areas over the last few days compounds the situation for people, especially those currently living out in the open. Other are using thatch or plastic sheeting as temporary cover. The district governor has reported that due to insecurity caused by continuous conflict along the border, the daily lives of local population are being severely disrupted and their resilience to cope with this emergency weakened. 18 school-age children are without schooling, and a food shortfall is expected in about two weeks time, especially impacting on women and children.
The temple in Preah Vihear and the 800 km. (500 mile) shared border have been the source of a long-standing dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.
National and International Response to Date The following assistance by other Organizations/Departments to these border conflict IDPs is reported by CWS as follows:
� Cambodian Red Cross distribution to 520 families on 07 April 2009- 1 family received 25kg of rice, 10 packs of instant noodle, 10 cans of canned fish, 5 plates, 2 soup plates, 2 cooking pans, 5 spoons. Food relief to cover a 2 month period.
� Oxfam GB distribution to 277 families from Prasat village- plastic sheets (temporary shelter)
� Provincial Department of Health distribution of 200 mosquito nets to 200 families from Prasat Village on 04 April 2009
� Provincial Department of Social Affairs distributed 400kg of rice to those who are from Prasat Village and 100kg of rice for those who are from Kor Muoy Village
Assistance currently being planned by CWS response complements assistance already provided by other organizations and government authorities.
ACT Response
In coordination with other organizations and government authorities, including through the Provincial National Disaster Management Authority and Cambodian Red Cross, CWS has today submitted a request for approximately US $22,453 from the ACT Rapid Response Fund to support a two month response supporting 520 of the most vulnerable IDP families with food packages, kitchen sets, tents, water containers, mats, mosquito-nets as well as ceramic water filters. CWS is also in contact with ACT member Lutheran World Relief, which is not responding at this time.
Any funding indication or pledge to replenish the ACT Rapid Response Fund should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).
(ends)
ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
No comments:
Post a Comment