Japan’s government responded Friday to wide-spread flooding with $187,000 in relief supplies such as tents, blankets and plastic sheets, donated through the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Japan also contributed $100,000 cash to the National Disaster Committee “in response to the appeal made by the Royal Government of Cambodia,” an embassy statement said.
The National Committee on Disaster Management sent out a general plea Friday for aid as the country faces continued flooding.
The appeal for “urgent relief assistance” came as the committee reported 94 deaths and the evacuation of nearly 30,000 families in 13 different provinces.
Much of the northwest is inundated with water, as are some districts in provinces in the Mekong Delta.
Phnom Penh, however, remains untouched by floodwaters from rising rivers, despite the Department of Hydrology and River Works for the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology reporting a rise in water levels across the country. The water level Friday was at 11.09 meters for the capital, still below the 11.2 meter flood-line. The department predicted the waters would reach 11.19 by Monday.
But Mao Hak, deputy director of the hydrology department said Friday even if the level reach 11.2 meters, the city could be protected by damming the water with sandbags. After the 11.75 meter level, though, “we cannot control the flooding,” he said.
