Nary a drop to drink

As a light rain peppered the dry earth in Kampong Thom province’s O’Dong village on Friday afternoon, residents rejoiced. Having scrambled around for pots and bowls, they hoped the drizzle would yield enough water to cover their basic needs. But after just 15 minutes, hope turned to disappointment as the rain stopped. Amid a country-wide drought, villagers here claim they have struggled for months to find enough water for drinking, washing and cooking. And, they say, things only seem to be getting worse as the province’s once-flowing Stoung River has dried up leaving only puddles of water, which run red with sediment. …

Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nary-drop-drink