Debt relief measures by micro-lenders in Cambodia have failed to alleviate the financial burdens facing indebted families, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday, urging the government to suspend loan collections for borrowers who are no longer able to meet payments during the coronavirus pandemic.
HRW said in a statement that the government’s response to the outbreak has been insufficient to protect borrowers, who have increasingly been forced to sell land and property to make payments, while micro-loan providers have also failed in their human rights responsibilities to those in debt.
“Many Cambodians fear losing their land more than catching the coronavirus because they can’t pay back their loans and the government has done little to help them,” said Phil Robertson, HRW’s deputy Asia director.
In full: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/loans-07142020153136.html
