Cambodia Ketsana Flood Appeal

SPECIAL APPEAL - URGENT NEED FOR DONATIONS
Updated - 2nd October 2009

The situation in Cambodia after Typhoon Ketsana:
At least 15 people have died and arround 10,000 families are in need of urgent humanitarian relief. 2,000 homes have been destroyed and 10's of thousands of hectares of rice crops have been flooded. The situation could get worse if assistance in not delivered soon.

Large parts of Siem Reap are currently under water, and all of the children’s homes at the projects are either under or surrounded by water and more rain is forecast for the next 2 days. The town is best navigated by canoe, and all of our projects are currently inaccessible. So far, we count ourselves lucky that we have been spared the far more severe weather that the Philippines and Vietnam have endured as a result of Typhoon Ketsana.

Although we have not yet heard of any serious problems with our families we do know that their lives will be turned upside down as normal day to day business has been curtailed by the severe flooding. In the short term very few have been able to work, houses and fields are flooded, fish stocks severely disturbed by the flooding and the distribution of necessities prevented by the floods. We don’t know what we will find until we get to the projects when the water subsides.

Once the floods recede, then the real problems will begin, with rice crops, vegetable gardens damaged and food stocks restricted. People will have little or no money and prices will almost certainly rise. The poor of our projects will be the first to feel it.

The consequences of the flood:

Loss of crops - Many of the families Globalteer work with are farmers or fishermen. The floods will have destroyed crops and displaced fish stocks.

Increased prices - With so much of the food stocks ruined in Cambodia and Vietnam, there will be inevitable price rises, something the poorest can ill afford.

Damage to homes - The floods may have damaged homes of the poorest but hopefully this will be minimal.

Disease - Flooding can contaminate water supplies leading to disease.

Globalteer wish to provide short term food support to the families affected by the flood. Many families will have lost their food crops and will struggle in the short term to feed themselves. With increased food prices, many families will be forced to withdraw their children from the projects so that they can work to support the families urgent needs. With your help, no child need will need to be withdrawn from education to work.

Globalteer wish to provide clean water in the short term to those that require it, this will limit the spread of disease form contaminated water. Any homes damaged by the Typhoon can be repaired if funds are available.

As a consequence of Typhoon Ketsana, Globalteer is launching a special appeal to all our friends. The children and families of Anjali and Grace House (GCDC) have been most affected by the flood due to their proximity to Tonle Sap Lake. Donations will be split between the two projects and communities to relieve the suffering of the children and their families. Providing rice aid, clean drinking water, house repairs and help in getting their lives back to normal with whatever the village elders and community workers say is required.

Globalteer staff and volunteers are on the ground now and will be working very hard over the next few weeks and your help is requested by proving the funds to support those most affected by the floods.

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