Red Cross gives houses to 328 military veterans

THE Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) on March 18 handed over more than 300 houses to veterans in “Bun Rany Sen Chey Damnak Trayoeng village”, Prangil commune, Phnom Kravanh district of southeastern Pursat province.

The handover took place in a ceremony, with 328 houses given to veterans to complete the planned 628. Ten of the latest batch of homes were gifted by Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk.

The event was presided over by CRC secretary-general Pum Chantiny and his Cambodian Veterans Association (CVA) counterpart Kun Kim – who is also National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) vice-president – with may officials and donors in attendance.

Mao Thonin, former Pursat provincial governor and special commissioner for CRC president Bun Rany Hun Sen for the development of the village, noted that the social land concessionshadbeenprovided to the veterans by Prime Minister Hun Sen, and that the CRC was responsible for the construction of the 628 homes.

Thonin, who is currently the Kampot provincial governor, pointed out that development of the village entailed, among other things, the construction of roads, electric power infrastructure, wells, schools, a teachers’ dormitory, a health centre and a general examination and treatment facility.

Chantiny expressed gratitude and appreciation to the veterans for their contribution to the protection of Cambodian territory, and devotion for the sake of the nation, especially for peace, stability and development.

“The leadership and other dignitaries have done their best to bring peace and develop the country into what we have today. Therefore, the Cambodian Red Cross, as a form assistance to public authorities in the humanitarian sphere, has also considered the hardships of and promoted the livelihoods of our veterans,” she said.

She said that there are currently 25 CRC volunteers on standby at the village to lend a hand in humanitarian assistance, solve any issues that may arise, and strengthen community resilience.

Chantiny urged the veterans to make suitable use of their new homes to improve their livelihoods, and take care of them for future generations. She also called on authorities to ensure the availability of land in the area for new veterans or the children and descendants of existing residents who are most in need.