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| Regions
and Countries - Asia and the Pacific |
Afghanistan
// Bangladesh // Bhutan
// Cambodia // China
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Cook Islands & Tokolau // East
Timor // Fiji // India
// Indonesia // Iran
//
South Korea // Lao PDR // Malaysia
// Maldives // Mongolia
// Myanmar // Nepal
// Niue // Pakistan
// Papua New Guinea // Philippines
// Samoa //
Solomon Islands // Sri Lanka
// Thailand // Vietnam
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| Kampuchea
/ Cambodia |
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Cambodia
enjoys the benefits of the Mekong River that divides the country
in two parts. The lowland regions bordering the river and the
Tonle Sap Basin receive good-quality natural fertilizer, thus
enabling various seasonal agricultural activities by the people
living in those areas. The Tonle Sap Basin is also a major source
of freshwater fish for the whole country. Yet this source of livelihood
is also a fertile ground for disasters. Not spared from global
climate change, the river system has recently changed its regime.
Floods have become more common. In 2000, flooding was reported
to be the worst in 40 years.
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Greater
than 350 people died, and 3.2 million (30 percent of the total
population living in 21 of 24 provinces) were affected. The impact
on the national economy was severe. Total damage was estimated
by the government to be $157 million. Drought is also increasingly
a problem. In 2002, it affected more than 2 million people in
eight provinces, according to the National Committee for Disaster
Management (NCDM). The NCDM plays a central role in coordinating
and supplying emergency aid to affected people. However, substantive
and managerial capacities need to be strengthened. The Ministry
of National Defence, with its nationwide network, provides mostly
logistic support when needed. The Ministry of Water Resources
and Meteorology plays an important role in forecasting and reporting
water levels. A disaster management team comprising focal points
from almost all ministries has been established to provide backup
support as necessary. The commitment of UN agencies under the
framework of the UN Disaster Management Team in Cambodia is reflected
in the UN Development Assistance Framework. The UN Disaster Management
Team strategy combines both a rapid-response mechanism for emergency
relief and rehabilitation based on a joint response plan, and
a separate mechanism that addresses longer-term disaster mitigation
and management capacity requirements of the country. UN agencies
appealed in October 2000 for emergency relief and initial rehabilitation
and mobilized $8.2 million against total needs of about $ 11 million.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
and the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC), with their active countrywide
network, played critical roles after the floods by supporting
emergency relief, health, water and sanitation. In addition, institutions
such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are implementing
programmes to support the government on rehabilitation measures
following the floods, including road rehabilitation. Lastly, the
Mekong River Commission Council approved in November 2002 its
Flood Management Programme for the Lower Mekong River Basin Countries.
Its main emphasis is on flood forecasting and early warning systems
in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. UN agencies in Cambodia are committed
to supporting the existing government mechanisms, namely the NCDM,
the CRC, and their networks throughout the country. (...)
More
information |
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| More
information |
| •
UNDP
Cambodia Country Office
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| Projects
Related |
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Strengthening
National Capacities for Disaster Preparedness and Management
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