Posted on May 6, 2010 by by valerirojas

At a meeting today Australia announced its largest ever package of food aid.

The package was announced during a meeting between the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Interior, His Excellency Mr Sar Kheng and Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance Bob McMullan,The package will help address persistent food shortages among Cambodia’s poorest people.

“To help around 800,000 Cambodians living in hunger, including 578,000 children, the Australian Government is providing the World Food Programme with $6 million in 2009-10 to purchase and distribute more than 8600 metric tonnes of rice,” Mr McMullan said.

“Cambodia has one of the highest malnutrition rates in Asia. An estimated 2.8 million people lack access to adequate food and 39.5 per cent of children suffer from chronic malnutrition.

“On top of this, in 2009 the dual impact of the economic recession and Typhoon Ketsana placed even more Cambodians at risk of poverty and hunger. The typhoon affected 10 of Cambodia’s 24 provinces, damaging or destroying more than 107,000 hectares of rice crop just before harvest,” Mr McMullan said.

This assistance will also include new food-for-work programs, ensuring food for more than 145,000 farmers and labourers and their families during the pre-harvest season, as well as a home-based care program for up to 77,000 Cambodians affected by HIV/AIDS.

“To help Cambodia address its critical human resource needs Australia will also double the number of scholarships to Cambodia over the next four years, bringing the total number from 25 in 2010 to 50 by 2013-14,” Mr McMullan said.

“Through the Australian Development Scholarships program we will help Cambodia build the capacity of its institutions devastated by years of conflict.”

Source: ausaid

Australia increases support for food and scholarships in Cambodia, 2.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating

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