Friday, 10 October 2008

Asian Development Bank Provides Food to Poorest Families in Cambodia

Posted on 10 October 2008
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 581

“The Asian Development Bank – ADB – announced yesterday, 8 October 2008, that it will provide emergency food, corresponding to US$35 Million, to the poorest families in Cambodia while they are challenged by the rising price of food and of fuel.

“The poorest families living around the Tonle Sap Lake and in poor communities in Phnom Penh will receive rice and other food. Food will be provided also to children leaning in primary classes at different education centers and at primary schools.

“The aid of the ADB will help to increase employment through ‘food-for-work’ programs, and poor farmers will receive seeds and fertilizer for increasing yields.

“Mr. Arjun Goswami, the ADB Country Representative in Cambodia, said, ‘The aid of the ADB will help half a million of the poorest Khmer people from starvation.’

“Since more than one year ago, the price of rice increased twice, and the price of meat and of fish increased between 30 and 50 percent, while farmers seriously suffered with the price of fertilizer rising three times.

“Many poor families had sold their property and asked for loans with very high interest rates for buying food, which leads to more serious poverty.

“Mr. Goswami added that “Cambodian families generally spend around 60% of their income on food, therefore, the rising price of food gravely affects the poorest families.’

“One out of three children in Cambodia suffers from malnutrition, and the present food crises increased the burden and the extent of malnutrition among children in this country.

“Mr. Goswami added, ‘The aid of the ADB aims mainly to save children from being affected by malnutrition, which can block their physical and mental growth, which causes different diseases to appear later.

“The emergency food aid package of the ADB covers US$17.5 million in grant aid and US$17.5 million as a concession loan. The Royal Government of Cambodia will contribute US$5.8 million to support this project.

“Mr. Cheam Yeap, a high ranking official of the Cambodian People’s Party, said that as a Khmer citizen, we welcome the aid provided by international organizations, especially by the ADB, that always helps us. The provision of food aid is strengthens the livelihood of the Cambodian people. Previously, we could share food for some extent.

“Mr. Cheam Yeap continued to say that the aid of the ADB is good for the Cambodian government led by Samdech Akak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen, and it is also an achievement that the new fourth term government has received as a new gift from an international organization for the Cambodian people.”

Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #112, 9.10.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 9 October 2008

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