Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon brought emergency assistance to 300 vulnerable families affected by Covid-19 in Chongkal district of Oddar Meanchey province.
Sakhon said the pandemic had a broad effect on the economy, society and livelihoods of the people though the government had taken many measures to help them cope with it and has already reopened socio-economic activities.
He said vulnerable people are affected the most and the government has helped ease their burden by providing emergency assistance such as the milled rice he was distributing.
“We can deliver 40kg of rice to each family, but this is just temporary relief. More aid will come through the Cambodian Red Cross, development partners, the private sectors and other donors,” he said.
Deputy provincial governor Dy Rado said the rice is additional assistance to what the government had provided earlier.
He said this time there were 40 tonnes of rice to be delivered to 1,000 families including the 300 from Chongkal.
The rest of the 425 families are from Samrong district along with 275 families from Banteay Ampil district, who will receive their rice later.
Sakhon also instructed officials at the provincial agriculture department to increase agriculture production by working with development partners and the private sector to collect more technical and financial support to help people in the short and long term.
Sot Sisokheang, director of the provincial agriculture department, said officials had provided fish, frogs and chicken to people for them to raise as well as vegetables.
He said the situation is not as challenging as it was when there were many cases of Covid-19 and some parts of the province were locked down.
