Floods in Cambodia: aid grant made to YMCA

2 November 2011

Cambodia and the whole Mekong River area experienced the worst flooding in its history on 26 September this year – and it is the poorest families who are suffering most.

A young boy looks for waste items to sell in Cambodia

It’s shocking enough that many children in Cambodia have to scour rubbish heaps for plastic bottles to sell for food – but when areas like this become flooded and waste washes into residential areas, the health dangers are obvious.

Over two million people have been affected as their homes and property, rice paddies and crops have been lost to the rising waters and entire livelihoods have been destroyed. The death toll in Cambodia currently stands at over 200 people – half of them children – and there are fears that this number will grow as people become severely ill with water-borne diseases, being without the shelter, healthcare and services they need to cope with the disaster.

Deth Bunthok of Cambodia YMCA, which Y Care International supports, reports that young people in affected areas are suffering from rashes on their skin, debilitating flu, malaria, terrible stomach aches and even snake bites. He emphasises why it is so important that people in affected communities receive medical assistance:

A young boy in Cambodia looks through rubbish for plastic bottles to sell

“During floods, food prices [and]... medical costs increase and the black flood water causes skin problems. Lowered immunity from lack of food combined with more pollution and dirty water everywhere means there are many other illnesses also. Providing medical treatment is an important intervention to keep poor families from becoming destitute in times of crisis.”

Cambodia YMCA, is working together with aid agencies, province authorities, local health authorities and Cambodian communities to help affected communities recover from the catastrophe. Y Care International has made a grant of £2,500 to Cambodia YMCA which will enable them to provide medical treatment to over 300 young people and their families who urgently need health checks, remedies, antidotes, and attention to injuries they sustained when fleeing the floods. Cambodia YMCA will also provide counselling and health awareness so that communities can take action to stop the spread of disease.

To read about projects run by Cambodia YMCA supported by Y Care International, see our Cambodia pages.