Floods Kill Eight More as Evacuees Face Health Problems
The death toll caused by severe flooding along the Mekong River increased by eight yesterday, bringing the total number of deaths over the past two weeks to more than 20, including 11 children, an official said. Keo Vy, deputy chief of the information department at the National Committee for Disaster Management, said he had no information yet on the latest victims of the flooding, but said that 14 of the total deaths had occurred in Kompong Cham province. Stung Treng, Kratie, Kompong Thom, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces have also been badly affected over the past two weeks, while Kandal province began to flood on Tuesday. … Families in Stung Treng City who were evacuated to higher ground because their homes were inundated by floodwater are suffering infections caused by lack of hygiene and clean drinking water, a health official said. Heng Nhoeu, provincial director of the health department, said medical officials had been sent in to assist the victims. “There’s not enough water so the people are using unclean water from the river,” she said, adding that chloramine tablets, a water disinfectant, have been distributed to protect them from diarrhea. … Men Neary Sopheak, spokeswoman for the Red Cross, said the organization doesn’t provide clean drinking water to evacuees, just food and other supplies. …
Ben Sokhean and Lindsey Peterson
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/floods-kill-eight-more-as-evacuees-face-health-problems-43686/
