Cambodia

Bounty Placed on Cambodian Rats
Discovery Earth Alert, March 21, 2000

Rats in the southern Cambodian province of Takeo had a bounty placed on their tails by government officials on Monday in an effort to halt the destruction of the area's rice crops. Governor Keb Chutema said, "Today we launched a rat attack campaign in Kirivong district of Takeo. We have appealed to farmers to join us in killing those nasty rats." An invasion of the rodents during the past several weeks is being blamed for the destruction of at least 1,236 acres of rice crops.

WFP Reports on Cambodia Floods
World Food Programme, September 29, 2000

According to the Government (National Committee of Disaster Management), the flooding has created a state of emergency in 14 out of 23 provinces. WFP is preparing to deliver emergency food aid to some 500,000 people, following the destruction of thousands of homes and nearly 220,000 hectares of rice crop by a historic flooding from Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. WFP is estimating that about 15,000 tons of food will be required to meet the immediate food needs of the flood victims. If the flood waters do not recede by mid-October there are fears that the farmers will not be able to plant on their land and will face prolonged and more serious vulnerability.