The monarch cannot support the nation’s poor alone, King Norodom Sihanouk wrote Friday, appealing to the government and wealthy to help the starving.
“I cannot possibly feed all Cambodia’s starving, the number of which is growing by the day,” he said. “Our government, the rich and the great should also do something to help the starving.”
The King handwrote his comments alongside a copy of a news article published Friday in the French-language newspaper Cambodge Soir and faxed to The Cambodia Daily.
Groups of rural poor have waiting outside the palace in the hope of receiving some food from the monarch, the French article said.
The King added he would distribute some rice “to these poor fellow countrymen” and would be making humanitarian food distributions to others stricken by famine every week.
More than 300 people were camped outside the Royal Palace on Sunday. Many said that they would not leave until receiving food or money from King Sihanouk and that they had nothing to go back to.
Sick and hungry, they said their land had not produced enough rice this year because of drought and now, flooding.
Sophean Chen, 27, left her home, husband and two eldest children in Svay Rieng province three days ago, carrying her sick infant with her. “There are floods in my province,” she said. “There is no rice. If no one helps, we’re still going to be here.”
“My stomach hurts because I do not have food,” said one woman, four months pregnant. “I have no money. I’m hungry. No one is helping. No organization is helping us. We have nothing.”
As they wait for the King’s assistance, the people are begging and selling off what little they have. Nean Nim, 46, from Prey Veng province, has been selling her jewelry to buy food. She is also suffering from a large swelling around her neck that needs medical attention.
They promise to go back home once they get help, but warn that more will be arriving if there is no aid to rural areas. “About 10 to 20 people arrive every day. Tomorrow more will come,” said Sok Kim, 68, from Prey Veng. “The floods stopped the rice from growing. We want help and we’re not leaving until we get it.”
