Kingdom urged to beef up social security system

THE UN in Cambodia recommended that the government scale up the social security system towards providing universal coverage and make it more responsive to shocks, focus on emergency response and emergency preparedness for large-scale outbreaks.

In their third memorandum released on May 25, the UN said they had worked closely with the Cambodian government in supporting the formulation and implementation of the new “emergency social assistance programme” in the form of a one-time cash transfer for people affected by the Covid-19 lockdown which will be rolled out in the first week of June 2021.

It said the government’s Covid-19 cash transfer programme had made effective use of the IDPoor system to provide assistance to people during the lockdown period.

While lauding this assistance programme, the UN said there was still room for improvement. It called on the government to implement pandemic containment measures in a “do no harm” manner. The government should protect people’s access to food and essential needs, facilitate on food supply chains and market functionality, enhance the quantity, quality and coverage of the relief provided.

“This requires defining a standard for lockdown areas that addresses market functioning, categorising essential workers to maintain food availability and access, establishing standard emergency food relief packages that are nutritionally adequate, having preidentified population groups to receive social assistance in case of arising shocks...,” the UN statement said.

The UN said the government should initiate, organise, coordinate and implement the humanitarian response. If there was a need or a request, the UN said it could assist to ensure that people in need receive the required assistance and protection.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said Cambodia welcomed all development partners who wished to provide assistance to the Kingdom.

“But so far, there seemed to be no one here to help us. Even the US said they would help with one million doses of [Covid-19] vaccine, but where are the vaccines?” he said.