Press Statements & Articles

NECF supports Cambodia flood outreach

December 14, 2011

NECF supports Cambodia flood outreach

THAILAND dominated much of the news headlines in Southeast Asia's flood crisis since August this year. But while Thailand has been better equipped to handle the floods, Cambodia's poverty-stricken conditions have now led to outbreaks of cholera and water-borne disease as the floodwaters begin to recede.

As of early November, floods in Cambodia have affected 18 out of 24 provinces at a cost of USD520 million. Thousands of kilometers of roads and highways have been submerged. Houses, schools, bridges, dams, and thousands of hectares of rice fields are affected. Displaced families live and sleep on plastic sheets and mats spread out on any available strip of land, together with whatever farm animals they have managed to rescue. It is no wonder disease is breaking out in such conditions.

NECF Malaysia recently supported Asian Outreach (AO) Malaysia's humanitarian mission to deliver food aid to flood victims in Cambodia. NECF contributed to funds raised by AO Malaysia. The funds were used to buy and distribute rice in collaboration with AO Cambodia and the Cambodian Ministry of Health on 6 November.

AO Malaysia Executive Director Eric Fung, who participated in the distribution, said the rice was given to 12 communities from the Lvea Em area. A total of 1,850 families received a 40kg sack of rice each, costing RM160,000 in total. The entire distribution process took three hours as the families stood in lines by the riverside in front of two barges which were loaded with the sacks of rice. People came by boat, motorcycles, bicycles, horse, carts and on foot. An old man cycled for two hours through muddy roads. After collecting his rice, he said it would now take twice as long for the return journey, but he was happy because he would be able to feed his family for another month. Imagine that - all that effort just to be able to have rice to last one month. What would happen after that?

Fung said the distribution was also attended by Cambodian government officials including the Deputy Provincial Governor and an advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, and many other VIPs. In a short speech before the distribution began, Fung told the aid recipients in the presence of government officials and VIPs that it was Jesus Christ who was responsible for the rice they were about to receive that day. "It is Jesus who did all the work in touching us to do our part. Today you are the recipients of Jesus' love. My friends, today you are able to receive the rice not because of me. Please remember it is my God - Jesus Christ - who loves you," Fung recounted in a thank-you letter to donors.

After Fung's speech, it was the Deputy Governor's turn to speak. Fung said the official mentioned twice in his speech, that Asian Outreach were Christian people who were motivated by God's love to help the poor and needy. Amazingly, he also said that the country was not against Cambodians becoming Christians!

"I reflect on that morning and I can say that the presence and love of God were made tangible. This could not have happened if [donors] had not given generously and sacrificially," said Fung.

He said Phase 2 of food aid distribution was on-going and the aim was to raise RM150,000. Those interested can email ao89pjm@unifi.my.

 

-with contributing information from Eric Fung
Photos courtesy of Asian Outreach



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