PHNOM PENH: On the occasion of the National Day for Disaster Management on 13 October 2022, Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on investors and business owners to continue contributing to the Royal Government’s disaster management activities by donating resources to protect business, trade, and the economy.

The Prime Minister said that the private sector is a pillar of national economic growth, so should also play an important role in disaster management activities.

"Through this coherence and interconnectedness, it is clear that the private sector is inseparable from disaster management," he said. "Therefore, smart investment is in mitigating business risk, preventing eventual losses and ensuring the sustainability of the business."

While Cambodia is facing floods, the Royal Government has recommended continuing to develop occupational hazard prevention systems, building resilient infrastructure, creating safe havens, and training staff and workers to know how to respond to disasters and follow evacuation procedures.

The Head of the Royal Government has instructed the relevant ministries and institutions to cooperate with the National Committee for Disaster Management, professional partners, investment partners and development partners to increase their capacity to provide advance notice of potential disasters, to ensure that the competent authorities and affected groups can have access to services that provide information on risk measures that should be implemented in a timely manner.

The Royal Government has also ordered the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the National Committee for Disaster Management to continue strengthening and expanding the food reserve system in Cambodia to ensure food security for all victims of disasters, by having a variety of options for reforestation and special cash reserves ready to address other non-food related needs.

Additionally, the Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of National Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to continue cooperating with the Disaster Management Committee to strengthen and expand the capacity of search and rescue operations by studying the proposed disaster management equipment and ensuring that strong rescue procedures are implemented in a timely manner.

The Royal Government instructs all ministries, institutions and authorities to continue strengthening existing mechanisms, policies, strategies, programs, plans and activities in regard to disaster management. In particular, the government urges to strengthen the capacity of the Disaster Management Secretariat and have all ministries and institutions monitor and prepare their own contingency plans and provide resources, means and materials for disaster relief, to support affected populations and provide post-disaster rehabilitation within each ministry or institution’s respective jurisdiction.

In addition to being vigilant in light of the recent floods, the Royal Government also calls on the public to continue living in a normal way, continuing to protect themselves, be vaccinated against Covid-19 and live cleanly in a good hygienic environment.

According to a report from the Committee for Disaster Management, this year's floods have affected 22 provinces, including Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pursat, Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear.