Railway Evictees Tussle With High Debt Levels

Adding to a growing body of research into the flaws of Cambodia’s $142 million railway rehabilitation project, a report published yesterday said soaring debt levels are crippling families forcibly relocated by the project. In the report by land rights organization Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT), researchers tracked the financial situation of families living in the Trapeang Anhchanh relocation site, located in Dangkao district, near the border of Kompong Speu, where “facilities and services remain rudimentary, livelihood options are limited, and transport links 1n the city are infrequent and expensive.” … Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and AusAID, the foreign aid arm of the Australian government, the railway project has in recent months been plagued by allegations of mismanagement such as poor levels of compensation, inadequate workplace conditions and faulty engineering work. … Multiple calls to Nhean Leng, chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Relocation Committee, went unanswered. AusAID did not immediately respond to questions. The ADB, however, said it is working to address the debt situation among evicted families. … “Under the Extended Income Restoration Program (EIRP), initial funds will be transferred within the month to the self-help groups that are ready to commence the program.” …