Press Release

If this was the Poipet Post, the newspaper headline would read: Local Leaders Cooperate To Deliver Flood Relief.

On Tuesday, October 11, 2011, a church, a non-government organisation and a village leader worked together to deliver food relief to sixty three flood-affected families in Poipet.

Village Leader, Mr Ban Sovann, identified the most vulnerable people in his community, many of whom he had personally assisted to find temporary shelter last week. On Tuesday, Christian Care For Cambodia Poipet (CCFC Poipet) and Bible Life Church served with Mr Sovann to deliver 392kg of rice and 487 cans of fish to the 341 needy flood victims.

Across the country more than 200 people have drowned, over 1 million people have been affected by the floods and over 100 000 hectares of rice paddies have been damaged.

Day-workers in Poipet are also impacted by seasonal flooding. The construction industry slows, pulling hand carts across the border in the mud becomes more difficult and it is much harder to walk the flooded streets looking for rubbish that can be recycled. As tin roof shacks sink into the mud, life becomes a struggle to survive. Pastor Barnabas from Bible Life Church observed, "These people usually work for their daily needs. Now they can't work and they're hungry."

CCFC Poipet was pleased to work in partnership with the local church and to cooperate with the village leader. During the distribution, CCFC Poipet Office Manager, Mr Pov Sopern, addressed the recipients saying, "Please don't think of this as simply a few kilograms of rice and some cans of fish. Receive this as a gift of love and a gift from God."

The first distribution is complete, but CCFC Poipet Project Director, Pip Miner, maintains, "The flood season isn't over yet."