Further 400 families receive water shortage relief funds
ANOTHER 20 wells have been provided for some 400 families through the Clean Wells Funds of Parents of Samdech Techo and Samdech Kite Phretibandit in Sesan and Siem Pang districts of Stung Treng province.
The wells are specifically aimed at families of soldiers and the disadvantaged and come amid clean water shortages in the region.
Sesan district governor Sovan Piseth told The Post on Monday that Kbal Romeas commune residents were facing clean water shortages for their daily use as creeks, ponds and lakes have gradually dried up during this season.
In response, a working group of the Clean Wells Funds led by Pich Chanmony Hun Manet had helped build 10 pumping wells across the commune, so they again have access to clean water.
He said on February 29, Chanmony and the working group had attended the inauguration of five wells in Kbal Romeas village of the commune, in the upper location of the Lower Sesan II Dam to meet the needs of more than 100 families.
“Donations in the form of wells are part of contributing to the resolution of the clean water shortage problem for residents in remote and disaster-prone areas,” he said.
A representative for the community in the village, Yao Son, 47, told The Post that the new wells had benefitted his villagers personally, and in farming and other businesses.
“Before receiving the wells, the majority of our villagers flocked to collect creek water. But the creek water almost dried up this season. It is also 2-3km from our village. The well water is nearer and cleaner,” she said.
Siem Pang district governor Phan Yuth told The Post that residents in Prek Meas, Sre Sambor and Santepheap communes are now facing water shortages daily because the three communes are in the highlands and have no canals or reservoirs like those found in the central plains.
He said the authorities plan to build as many as 30 wells for residents in the communes by the end of this year. The authorities are now hoping to raise funds from the private sector and NGO partners.
“The working group of the Clean Wells Fund has now provided them with 10 wells. Of the 10, six have been completed and have been inaugurated. The remaining wells are still under construction and will require additional funding to be completed,” he said.
Since 2013, Clean Wells Funds has addressed water shortages for hundreds of thousands of families across the country by beginning construction on over 800 wells. some 600 have been completed so far.