1 Measures Undertaken Toward Disaster Reduction in Cambodia Concluding Regional Workshop on Methodology to Assess the Socio-Economic Impacts of Natural Disasters, Bangkok,19-21 Sept.2005 PEOU SAMY Secretary General, NCDM Kingdom of Cambodia Nation Religion King

2 I. COUNTRY INFORMATION A.Government Organization -Country:Kingdom of Cambodia -Organization:National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) chaired by Prime Minister and seconded by 2 senior Ministers as 1st vice & 2 nd vice - Addr: 274 Preah Monivong Blvd,Phnom Penh,Cambodia Fax: (855-23)211030,Phone: (855-23) Royal Government Of Cambodia National Committee for Disaster Management

3 B. Location of the Country -Between the latitudes of 10 & 15 North and the longitudes of 102 & 108 East -Area:181,035 sq.km -Population:13.4 million (85.4% in rural areas) -Provinces/Municipalities: 24 (185 districts, 1621 communes) North: -Bordered:North: by Laos North and West: North and West: by Thailand East and Southeast: East and Southeast: by Vietnam South-West: South-West: by Gulf of Siam

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5 C. Climate-Temperature-Rainfall May-November:Rainy season o C Nov-February:Dry season o C Feb-May:Hot o C Rainfall: - East Mountainous areas: 2, mm - South-West Coastal areas: 4,000 mm - Plain areas: 1,400-1,600 mm

6 II - National Committee for Disaster Management Membership: 19 ministries, institutions chaired by Prime Minister and Seconded by two senior Ministers: HE Nhim Vanda as first vice and HE Serey Kosal as second vice Mission To lead the Disaster Management in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

7 A-Roles and Responsibilities :  To study, monitor, assess, collect, analyze and manage the disaster risk data and develop the disaster situation report to be submitted to the Royal Government with recommendations in order to issue principles, policy, circulars, declaration and measures undertaken for disaster management;  To make request to the Royal Government on the needs and the use of resources, namely funds, fuel, means of mission and human resources for disaster management operation and assisting victims affected by natural and man-made hazards;

8  TTo develop human resources through skill training activities equipped with knowledge for the capacity building of officials in charge of disaster management at the national level in related ministries/ institutions,at provincial/ municipal, district,commune and village level, and make public awareness and education to the people in vulnerable communities about the natural and man- made disaster risk;  -To collaborate with government ministries/institutions, UN agencies, IOs, NGOs and donors to implement the national policy of disaster management, including disaster prevention, preparedness & mitigation to strive against natural and man-made hazards;

9  To coordinate with the national agencies, regional and international communities for cooperation in sharing information on disaster situation in order to reduce the negative impact of disasters; * To coordinate with government ministries /institutions, UN agencies, IOs, NGOs, international communities and local donors in order to seek assistance for the purpose of emergency response and post-disaster rehabilitation.

10 NCDM Organizational Structure DM W.G of Minis./Insti. National Committee for Disaster Management (19 Ministries, institutions) Gen. Secreta. Cabinet Prov. Comm. for DM (PCDM) Dist Comm. for DM (DCDM) PCDM Secreta. Commune DM Team (CDMT) Audit Unit DCDM Secreta.

11 III –Major Hazards (Natural Disasters) Floods: –Flash flood (South-West and North-West of Phnom Penh) –River flood (Provinces along Mekong River and around Tonle Sap Great Lake) –25% of plain areas on average is flooded annually by Mekong River and its tributaries in rainy season –Serious floods: 1961, 1966, 1978, 1984, 1991, 1996 and 2000

12 Table: Comparison of water level at hydrological station Basac Chatomuk Warning state: 10.50m YearMax water level (m)

13 Sector:Affects : 1-Social-People affected: 3,448,000 people in 21 out of 24 provinces -People evacuated: 387,000 people, Death toll: 347 -Houses affected: 317,400 houses (destroyed 7,000) 2- Education and Health -Schools: 988 damaged in 13 provinces -Health centers damaged Production- Rice crop destroyed: 374,000 ha - Other crops destroyed: 47,000 ha - Livestock lost: 3900heads 4-Infrastructure-National & Provincial road damaged: 2,600 km, Secondary road damaged: 1,500 km, Rail road damaged: 34 km, Bridges: 115 sites damaged, Irrigation systems damaged: 123 sites

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16 IV- Measures Undertaken Toward Disaster Reduction in Cambodia A. Non-Structural Measures - Improvement of legal framework and functional structure downward to commune level. - Nationwide public awareness on all legal frameworks related to Disaster Management. - Converting the recommendations of Emergency Response and Rehabilitation Coordinating Group into actual activities undertaken by Five related sub-groups ( Sub-group of Emergency Response, Food Security, Health, Small Scale Infrastructure, Water & Sanitation and Disaster Preparedness & Mitigation.)

17 -Improving the E.W. System in close cooperation with MRC, related ministries, especially linkage with the Regional Information Center for sharing information including Earthquake & Tsunamis. -Improvement of Damage and Needs assessment system at national and sub-national levels -Strengthening the Disaster Preparedness and Training Activities through refresher training at all levels, -Conducting the Community –Based Disaster Risk Management Programme at Flood Prone Areas to promote the disaster reduction. -Issuing circular letters instructing appropriate measures to be undertaken for disaster prevention, preparedness and Mitigation, emergency response.

18 -Conducting Public awareness and education on hazard risk with the participation of community and stakeholders. -Providing materials and equipment for disaster preparedness and Emergency Response : speed boats, Community boats, Mobile houses to be installed at safe centers during flood. -Preparing the safe areas in target districts to receive the flood victims and ensure security, water and Sanitation System. -Conduct specialized training for rescue workers, equipped with rescue items. -Building partnership for coordination and cooperation to contribute to disaster reduction through the provision of small project along with necessary materials so as the people can live with flood.

19 B. Structural Measures Adoption of new standard of Construction for road, bridge, school buildings, health centers based on flood water level in 2000 Improving irrigation system, dike, dams, ponds, water channel to catch water for supplying rice field. Opening water way along national road East of Mekong River to discharge flood water from upstream. Get the flood water away from the people through the erection of protecting dike around by cities.

20 V- Conclusions. Cambodia really needs financial support from UN- ESCAP to implement the ECLAC Methodology to assess the Socio-Economic Impacts of Natural Disasters as well as to conduct a training for a joint Assessment Team for this issue. Beside the negative impacts of flood, Cambodian people have got positive effects in terms of fertilised soil, fisheries and environment stabilisation. Cambodia also has opportunity to develop multi- sectoral aspects, including infra-structure(national, provincial and rural roads, bridges, irrigation schemes..), new school buildings, health centers with a new standard more developed than before.

21 Thank you for your attention. Distribution of Relief Items by Samdech HUN SEN Prime Minister