China News Service, Phnom Penh, October 22nd. Title: Visiting the resettlement sites of flood-stricken people in Cambodia: Reinforcing confidence and rebuilding
China News Agency reporter Ouyang Kaiyu
Facing the reporter's camera, a Cambodian boy spread two fingers and made a "v" gesture.
The six or seven-year-old boy in Phnom Penh, wearing a ball jersey, with dark skin and bright eyes, was not destroyed by the flood like their house, but showed optimism.
The temporary residence for him and his family is a temple about 20 kilometers away from the center of Phnom Penh. It has been designated as a temporary settlement by the Phnom Penh City Government, and hundreds of families live here for a short time.
The picture shows on October 20, local time, at the temporary resettlement site for disaster-stricken people in Lango District, Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. All the affected people who moved here received emergency supplies.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Ouyang Kaiyu
Since October, affected by tropical storms, a new round of heavy rainfall has covered most provinces and cities in Cambodia.
A week ago, the rainfall in Phnom Penh, the capital, once exceeded the historical extreme. The water level of the Baitno River in the Kangla province adjacent to Phnom Penh rose rapidly and flooded, causing most of the capital’s Lango area to be flooded and a large number of residents were forced to move to Temporary resettlement site.
A reporter from China News Agency drove to here a few days ago. The flood has not completely dissipated along the way. Especially after entering Lango District, the waves caused by the undulating flood still overflowed the road. Some sections of road accumulated water higher than the chassis of the off-road vehicle. It is obvious that the exhaust pipe keeps "choking".
The picture shows on October 20, local time, at the temporary resettlement site for the disaster-stricken people in Lango District, Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The disaster-stricken people who moved here received emergency supplies. They are facing a new life journey to rejuvenate their confidence and rebuild their homes.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Ouyang Kaiyu
The reporter saw along the way that several Cambodian-style stilted buildings had “turned the second floor into the first floor” due to the low terrain. Residents used large basins to move home supplies to the side of the higher road.
According to previous pictures taken by the local TV station, only the roof of the lower-lying house was exposed to the water. The armed forces officers and soldiers used speedboats and boats to evacuate the affected residents.
The place where these affected people evacuated was this temple named Tek Thla.
When the reporter met the optimistic local boy, he had lived here for a few days and quickly became acquainted with the children transferred from other places.
The children wandered back and forth among the "hills" piled up of mineral water, instant noodles, rice and flour.
This is the latest batch of emergency supplies, donated by the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia.
After the Cambodian floods, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian rushed to the front line of the floods in Phnom Penh to condolences the people affected by the floods and handed over a batch of emergency relief supplies.
At the same time, some Chinese-funded institutions and enterprises in Cambodia have also taken action to participate in Cambodia's flood relief through donations and on-site relief.
At the resettlement site of the disaster-stricken people of Tek Thla Temple, the chairman of the Cambodian Youth Federation Hong Mani put his hands together and thanked China for its help.
“During the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, the Cambodian side had donated money and materials to Chinese friends. This time Cambodia was hit by floods, and Chinese friends immediately extended a helping hand.” Hong Mani said that Cambodia and China’s cooperation in fighting the new crown epidemic will bring two things together. China’s relations have reached a new height.
The actions of the two countries to help each other reflect the sincere friendship that the two countries share weal and woe
Hung Mani recalled a quote from Prime Minister Hun Sen: “The Prime Minister once said that when we are poor we love each other and we know true friends when we are in difficulties. Cambodia and China are good brothers who share weal and woe.”
"Everyone is not alone. Prime Minister Hun Sen is still guiding disaster relief in the most affected province of Banteay Meanchey. Therefore, we must strengthen our confidence, overcome the flood, and rebuild our home." Hong Mani said loudly to the people in the resettlement site.
(Finish)