$91 Million Needed to Repair Flood-Damaged Infrastructure

$91 Million Needed to Repair Flood-Damaged Infrastructure

The Ministry of Rural Development has estimated that $91 million is needed to fix roads and water pumps damaged by recent floods.

The budget was announced yesterday at a ministry conference discussing how much is needed for repairs in 19 affected provinces and Phnom Penh.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance has already pledged $15 million to deal with the road damage.

Chan Daron, the Ministry of Rural Development spokesman, said that 5,389 kilometres of road have been affected with 3,154 kilometres seriously damaged.

Daron said the ministry has selected three provinces to prioritise first.

“Banteay Meanchey province has been allocated $4.6 million, Pursat province $4.6 million, and Battambang province $3.3 million,” he added.

The remainder of the $15 million is allocated for emergency assistance, he said, adding that the ministry has requested more money from the government and is waiting for help from development partners to reach the estimated budget needed.

“We have been busy raising funds from development partners, but we have not been able to confirm the exact amount raised, so we have decided to prioritise where assistance is needed most,” he said.

“We will repair infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and dams, in the provinces that have been badly affected. We must hurry to repair the roads so people can travel,” he added.

The Ministry of Rural Development said it plans to repair the road infrastructure by the middle of next year.

As part of the $91 million estimated budget, $900,000 has been allocated to restoring and repairing a total of 4,155 water pumps that have been polluted and rusted by the floods. As dry season approaches, this will become a pressing issue.

According to the National Committee for Disaster Management, the flash floods have affected 19 provinces and the capital. The provinces are Pursat, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Svay Rieng, Tboung Khmum, Oddar Meanchey, Siem Reap, Takeo, Kampong Speu, Mondulkiri, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Kampong Cham, Kandal, Kampong Chhnang, and Kampong Thom.

A total of 149,857 families or 599,428 people have been affected. Of them, 11,896 families or 47,584 people have been evacuated and 44 people have died due to the floods.