• Society

Flood Preventive Measures Set in 14 Districts

• By Romdoul Chetra
• October 9, 2023 8:30 PM

PHNOM PENH – Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng has ordered local authorities to prepare preventive measures for floods, as water levels in the city’s rivers are on the rise.

In a statement released on Oct. 9, the governor instructed 14 district governors to be highly cautious about potential floods. These include Dangkao, Kamboul, Prek Pnov, Russei Keo, Chroy Changvar, and Chbar Ampov districts.

Phnom Penh’s governor instructed them to seek safe evacuation locations for the citizens in case of flooding and to prepare restrooms, clean water supply, and electricity in the designated facilities.

District governors are asked to cooperate with relevant departments or units to set these preparatory measures and with security forces in case of flooding.

Khuong Sreng called for the preparation of transportation means, two-handled baskets, sandbags, and food, as well as a census of the people who might be impacted by floods. He also instructed Phnom Penh’s municipal police commissioner, the Royale Gendarmerie and the region’s Special Forces Command to prepare adequate equipment, such as boats and canoes.

Local authorities have to inform the citizens living in vulnerable areas to prepare and be cautious, and to call on donors and the private sector for money or materials donations, and to organize shifts to stand by, gather information, intervene, and resolve problems.

The Department of Public Works and Transportation must also prepare trucks and machinery for repairing potentially damaged infrastructure.

The Department of Water Resources must broadcast regularly to inform citizens and local authorities about the risk of flooding, while the Department of Information must spread the news widely among the public.

The governor also requested the Ministry of Education to temporarily suspend any institutions affected by the floods. The Department of Health must organize a health protection plan, officials, ambulances, medical materials, and medicines for the evacuated people.

“The 14 district administrations and Phnom Penh Capital Administration’s departments and units must cooperate and coordinate in accordance with their own specialized duties to rescue the victims,” Khuong Sreng said.

The governor also called on the citizens living along the Mekong River and Prek Thnaot River to be on guard and to arrange their properties to avoid any loss due to the floods.

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Meng Seavmey for Cambodianess.