Storm hit 229 families in Siem Reap

Broken house hit by a storm on 23, March, 2008 in Sosorsdom commune, Siem Reap province

At least 2 people were killed and 8 persons got minor injuries in a storm hit to 229 families in Sosorsdom and Mok Pen communes, Pouk district in Siem Reap provinces at about 4.30 pm on 23 March, 2008 leaving their houses felt down, damaging roofs and wall broken. However, after the incident, people started rebuilding their houses nearby and some families stayed under tents provided by the Cambodian Red Cross and from humanitarian assistance. The storm which the people claimed to have hit for about 30 minutes destroyed almost of the households including rice, rice seed, clothes, agricultural equipments, motors, bike and other food provision, etc. For emergency relief assistances, Cambodian Red Cross, Siem Rep lawmaker, Seang Nam and the national disaster management committee along with VIR organization (Vulnerable Illiteracy Reduction) provided

immediate assistances includes rice, money, food and other basic need. However, it will not last for long. In addition, lawmaker , Seang Nam pledged to give the family whose mother and a daughter died during the storm in an amount of $50 per month forever if there are children go to school and if not it is for only 5 years with the same amount of money. Furthermore, he claimed to rebuild the broken houses for the family.

Victims rest under a temporary shelter after their house was damaged by the storm

Sva Hourl village chief of Mouk Pen commune said the victims are extremely depending on farming which can be done once a year. The people do have another business and doing plantation at home or at the field. He said losing their rice seeds is a big encounter. Likewise, the victims claimed their living would face with difficulties because they will not have rice seed for farming in the up coming rainy season.

Wood, pillars, ruins left after the storm

Based on Caritas observation at the field and as of VIR organization which is supported funds by CONCERN organization and based in Siem Reap province show that losing rice seeds is their major problem and there should be an immediate response because during the incident, rice seeds that was prepared to be sowed at up coming planting season. Moreover, the affected families are extremely depending on farming which can be done only once a year. They do have neither a subsidiary business nor doing plantation.

Besides rice seeds, food and rice assistance is also needed because the emergency relief assistances provided by the National disaster management committee , Cambodian Red Cross and NGOs just can support for a short period of time. Presently, some families are able to rebuild their houses and some are living under the tents because they do not afford to reconstruct their houses. Most of them are poor. VIR is in charged of building 50 houses, and other 40 repairing other 40 houses which damaged some parts.

Caritas Cambodia is planning to provide rice, food assistances for 1 month period of time until people start their farming production during plantation season, especially Caritas Cambodia will provide rice seeds to families whose house were totally broken by the storm to enable them to restart their farming as their main source of income .It is long term response in order to secure their living condition.