World Vision reaches out to Typhoon Ketsana evacuees in Cambodia
By Ying Bun, Communications Officer

Children wading home after going to fetch a bottle from the store. Photo by World Vision Cambodia..

As dark clouds lingered and rain fell, World Vision began sending its rapid assessment teams to northern Cambodia to survey the damage done by Typhoon Ketsana.

The typhoon swept across Kampong Thom province killing 9 people, injuring 11. Some 37 houses were destroyed and 283 homes were reported damaged.

Sandan district, the worst affected area in Kampong Thom Province, reported more than 1,400 families homes flooded in water about one metre high. World Vision has two projects in the Kampong Thom Province.

A total of 298 children were affected in World Vision’s project areas. In response to the floods, World Vision is providing health education and chlorine tablets in cooperation with the government’s district’s health staff to children and their families.

In a separate project - Prasath Sambor – two homes collapsed and two children and their families sought shelter at the World Vision children’s club there. World Vision Cambodia has provided each family with items such as rice and cans of fish to help them tide through this period.

The government has prepared rubber boats to evacuate the villagers if the flood water continues to rise. People have been encouraged to move to higher grounds. Almost 200 livestock have also been moved to higher ground.

The people sense imminent trouble as the rain steadily falls, and the rivers rise with the dark clouds looming, but are unsure what to expect.