Thursday, 22 October 2009

Flood-affected Cambodians need food aid, Oxfam urges


21 October 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Thousands of families in Cambodia are still marooned and without adequate food aid after major floods hit the country, a charity reports.

According to Oxfam International, some 15,000 households are in need of immediate food assistance because aid has not been distributed quickly enough.

The organisation estimates that some 100,000 Cambodians were affected by typhoon Ketsana, which hit at the same time as annual floods at the end of September, many of whom are farmers or rural labourers.

Francis Perez, country lead of Oxfam International in Cambodia, commented that many people have been urgently awaiting aid for a month.

He said: "Government bodies and international aid agencies concerned with the current situation must start delivering food assistance now.

"Food insecurity is getting worse in the affected communities."

So far, the international aid agency has delivered non-food aid to 5,000 families in the badly-affected regions of Kratie, Kampong Thom and Stung Treng, but wishes to meet the food needs of 1,000 more.

Oxfam International is also working to help flood-stricken families in Bangladesh through the construction of shelters.

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