Flooding in rural Cambodia hits the disadvantaged families the hardest.
Saroeun and her husband (pictured above) rely on construction work to provide for their five children, aged 17 to seven.
Two months of flooding has put their work on hold, forced their children out of school and made it hard to put food on the table.
“This year’s flood, it’s difficult to find food – even fish,” she says.
“My construction work was paused. My husband needs to walk far to find fish. I pick some morning glory around house to sell.
“I can earn only around US$2.5 a day. It’s so hard for us to live.”
Every year the monsoon season arrives in Cambodia and it impacts families like Saroeun’s who live in tiny riverside villages. Normally, flooding lasts three weeks, but this year it has lasted two months and still has not subsided.
Floodwaters have cut many communities off from health centres, clean water, homes and schools.
The lack of clean water and medical care has increased the risk of infectious disease, while floodwaters also bring a greater risk of snakes and malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Many parents have been unable to work and children have not been able to go to school.
Fortunately, ChildFund’s Project Humanity partners are helping to ensure children and families get the help they need.
Around 200 families received emergency packs that includes 50kg of rice, water containers, soap, food and living supplies.
A Child-Friendly Space has been established, and village volunteers trained, so that children have a safe space where they can play and continue their education while schools are closed, and have access to safe drinking water, books, colouring paper, pencils, toys, games and snacks for children.
Temporary toilets have also been provided and local officials have received fuel for boats, generators and motorbikes so they can reach and support the most remote families.
