Floods in South-East Asia

Malteser International starts emergency relief in Cambodia

2,000 poor families which have been most affected by the floods will receive food.After the strongest rains in a decade, 17 of Cambodia’s 24 provinces are under waterThe families had to bring their animals to safety before the flooding

Cologne. After the strongest rains in a decade left 17 of Cambodia’s 24 provinces under water, Malteser International, the relief service of the Order of Malta for humanitarian aid, will provide emergency relief to 2,000 families in northern Cambodia starting this week. The South-Asian country has been severely affected by the floods: 247 people have died, 46,000 homes have been evacuated, and much of rice harvest has been destroyed. 

Malteser International will provide a three-month supply of food to 2,000 flood-affected families in the provinces of Siam Reap and Bantey Meanchey. “The December harvest has been ruined for these families, and their seed reserves have also been destroyed”, says Julia Brunner, senior desk officer for Cambodia at Malteser International. 1,200 of these families will also receive seeds so they can plant again in the spring. In addition, Malteser International will secure the drinking water supply in five villages.

Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is supporting Malteser International’s flood relief with 300,000 euros. Malteser International has been active in Cambodia since 1993, where it conducts projects in the areas of health and nutrition as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Attention editors: Julia Brunner, senior desk officer for Cambodia at Malteser International, is available for interviews: Contact through Malteser International’s headquarters at +49 (0) 221 98 22-169.

Malteser International is the worldwide relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta for humanitarian aid. The organisation provides aid in about 100 projects in more than 20 countries without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion. Christian values and the humanitarian principles of impartiality and independence are the foundation of its work. For further information: www.malteser-international.org and www.orderofmalta.int