Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet , Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, said on Friday that recent widespread flooding has affected around 120,000 households across seven provinces and cities, with Battambang Province accounting for more than half of the total affected population.
Speaking during a distribution ceremony of rice seeds and food supplies to affected families in northwestern Battambang Province, the Prime Minister noted that this year’s flooding was exacerbated by the rare concurrence of heavy rainfall and rising river levels.
“Over 60,000 affected families are located in Battambang alone, meaning the province represents more than 50 percent of the nation’s total affected population,” Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said.
He emphasized that his presence and the attendance of Royal Government officials were intended to demonstrate the Royal Government’s steadfast commitment to standing alongside its citizens during times of hardship. “The Royal Government will never abandon the people,” he assured.
Acknowledging the consecutive challenges faced by communities along the Cambodia-Thailand border—ranging from border closures and border incursions to natural disasters—the Prime Minister commended the local population’s resilience and strong spirit in overcoming adversity.
Highlighting the Royal Government’s emergency response strategy, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet outlined three key priorities: saving lives by evacuating residents to safe areas, maintaining public health and welfare at temporary shelters, and executing post-disaster recovery efforts.
Expressing deep condolences to the families of victims, the Prime Minister noted that eight people tragically lost their lives in Battambang due to drowning and electrical accidents during the inundation. However, emergency operations successfully safely evacuated tens of thousands of residents and thousands of families to safety zones.
