FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2020, Phnom Penh
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing $600,000 in additional humanitarian assistance to support response efforts to severe flooding in Cambodia caused by multiple tropical storms and prolonged torrential rain since early October.
“We were moved by the significant needs of many vulnerable Cambodian people, brought on by this year’s floods,” noted U.S. Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy. “The United States is providing this additional relief in solidarity with communities affected by the floods.”
With this additional funding, USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance is supporting the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to provide emergency assistance to help 3,725 affected families purchase food. This assistance builds on an initial $100,000 USAID provided to WFP in the immediate aftermath of the floods to distribute emergency food to more than 2,560 families in the hardest-hit areas of Pursat province.
“We thank USAID for this additional support to vulnerable families affected by the floods,” noted WFP Representative Claire Conan. “This assistance will be critical to their recovery, especially since many of them also suffer from the effects of the pandemic. WFP will work closely with the government and partners in this new phase of the floods response.”
Also with USAID support, WFP has helped strengthen the national disaster management information system of the Cambodia National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM). This has contributed to NCDM’s ability to monitor risks and impacts as the flooding occurred and to quickly mobilize resources to respond in affected areas
In addition, with USAID assistance, WFP supported the Humanitarian Response Forum, helping to coordinate the flood response across sectors and produce flood situation reports during the crisis.
Since 2000, USAID has provided nearly $13 million in disaster response, preparedness, and risk reduction assistance in Cambodia. Throughout 2020, the United States is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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For more information: Chou Chea
Communications and Reports Officer
WFP Cambodia
Tel: +855 78 565 283
Email: chou.chea@wfp.org
