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Landslides Destroyed 39 houses of people in Samaki village, Reussey Keo district, Phnom Penh
Houses collapsed into Tonle Sap
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39 houses located in Samaki village, Reussey Keo district in Phnom Penh have been destroyed by a river bank collapsed into Tonle Sap at around 2. 45mn pm on the 1 April 2008. There are reportedly 61 families have been much affected by the landslide and leaving them homeless. No one was killed in the accident while some people got minor injuries and others remain nervous. 5 children were survived shortly during the incident. Some landslide victims said they were inside the houses when the
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incident happened, leaving their property uncollected properly. Food, clothes, home furniture, and other properties were destroyed. All 7 district authority, the municipality, police, and Cambodian navy immediately came to the incident. They maintained security and patrol the scenes in case of emergency need. Then families were moved into Samaki School building located nearby their destroyed houses for a temporary shelter.
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Ruins floating on the water just only one day after the landslide
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There are totally 767 families in Samaki village, accounted 3864 people, 1875 are women, according to the village chief. Most of the people are port workers, and doing small businesses.
Responding to Caritas one day after the incident, some victims said they are very concerned of the family future because they do not have homes anymore. Regarding to a temporary shelter in Samaki School building, they are so worried of removing by the authority and their family would be homeless.
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Sitting on the ground waiting to get the donation from the municipality in the morning of 2 April, 2008 inside School building, pregnant women said she was fortunately to escape from danger because people were running from their houses, adding that she needs to go to the hospital to check her health especially her pregnancy.
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Another 42-year old women, Sareung said 9 meter in length * 5 meter in width of her wooden house was collapsed into the river and she could not get anything when the incident happened. She said her children do not go to school because clothes, study materials were already lost. She appealed the government to help finding a shelter for her family because she has no another place to settle down.
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It is reportedly 61 families were affected by the landslide and just a few families moved to live with their relatives and most of them moved to Samaki School building where Caritas Cambodia finds difficult for them to live in. Having a permanent home is priority and should be done very soon because the school can not open for a longer period of time. Thus, they have to find another place to stay. Caritas Cambodia further finds out that the families need food supplementation for short period until they could live in a normal living. Clothing and school materials are lost and this really affected to their living condition especially women and children who need to go to school. Furthermore, people need financial support to restart their normal lives as some of them are workers and run small business at homes.
Immediate response from the municipality
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There is not enough water for a large usage. They can not run their small business anymore because everything was totally destroyed. Their every day income generation was interrupted. Children do not go school as usual. They depend on donations from the municipality. The donation can not support them longer. To meet the immediate needs, the municipal governor, Kep Chuktima gave 40000 Riels( 10$ ) to all the families affected by the landslides. One day after, the municipality then donated each family 10, 0000 Riels (25 $), clothing, a 50-kg of rice, and other relief assistances |
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While staying in school building, the families do not know when and where they will move to yet. But the municipality said the affected families will receive a 12 * 4 meter plot of land in Toul Sambo village, Sangkat Prey Veng, outskirt Phnom Penh. However, having met with Kep Chuktima, the municipality governor on 4 April, 2008, he said the municipality does not in charge of building homes on the land claiming that giving a plot of land in Dond Kor district to each family is a great help and there are more city slumps which must be renewed for the city beautification. Regarding to electricity, the government will access shortly and also is responsible for health care.
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Plot of land prepared for the affected families, located about 25 km from Phnom Penh
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In order to help the poor and for emergency work, Caritas Cambodia has contacted to the municipality for work corporation. Caritas Cambodia plans to build house for the families in order to provide them houses at least with a minimum standard and they should live with dignity and safety. Along with me reconstruction, Caritas Cambodia is planning to support for short term food assistance and livelihood program to rebuilding living condition of the victims. No exact date when the affected families will move to a new place given by the municipality.
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