1^st October 2011

“People shouldn’t die because of floods,” says Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), Margareta Wahlström (http://www.unisdr.org/archive/22416). “We have the technology to alert communities before floods arrive. People can be evacuated in time, lives saved and livelihoods protected. Once again, early warning systems are the smart choice and the most efficient of all disaster prevention measures.”

Pakistan, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Thailand are all suffering from the effects of flood waters, and many people have lost their lives as a result.

Wahlström also expressed her concern over the long-term economic impact of the floods on the affected countries, many of which have seen their infrastructure damaged and their services interrupted by the heavy rains, and said this would be one of the main issues she will focus on during her upcoming visit to the region.

According to a Cambodian disaster official, Keo Vy, “The damage is very serious this year. It is the country’s worst flooding in a decade. More than 17,000 families have been evacuated to higher ground in 12 provinces across the country.” Tens of thousands of hectares of rice paddies have been inundated, and about 300 schools closed after the rains yesterday, while the death toll has reached almost 150.

According to a UNISDR report, floods account for a significant amount of damage to public assets such as health and education facilities, as well as to the livelihoods, homes and assets of poor people. However, most of these losses are not recorded by governments, making it difficult for them to invest in disaster reduction measures.

“The invisible nature of this large volume of disaster loss is one reason why so many countries are finding it difficult to make both political and economic decisions to prioritize investment in disaster risk management,” said Wahlström.

In Thailand, more than two million acres of farmland are underwater and more than 635 schools have been damaged, leaving thousands of children out of school, while in Pakistan, this is the second year in a row that the country has endured severe floods. The World Food Programme reports that 5.4 million people have been affected, 73% of the harvest has been destroyed, and 36% of the livestock has been killed in flooded areas.

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Daily Digest from the Khmer Language Press 1^st October 2011

$500m Fraud Alleged

Ramei Kampuchea Daily newspaper reports that a total of four people are accused, including the former chief of protocol, advisor and assistant of the Head of the Senate, Chea Sim, of cheating a Malaysian investor by faking a project for building three hospitals and a national vehicle training centre. The grand total for these projects was $500m, with some of this money demanded as a an upfront facilitation fee. The four are now under investigation.

Rattanakiri Province Sees 42% Increase in Tourists

In the firsr nine months of 2011, both national and international visitors visiting Rattanakiri has increased by 42% since the completion of National Road 76, according to the Rasmei Kampuchea Daily. However, the number of rooms serving tourists have failed to keep pace, with the necessary hotels yet to be built, it added.

Worries Decreasing along with Floods

The Kampuchea Thmey Daily reports that in three provinces, Oddor Meanchey, Preah Vihear and Siem Reap, flooding have started to recede, while in provinces bordering the Mekong, such as Kratie and Kompong Cham, the situation is expected to improve from tomorrow. Surprisingly, Kompong Thom has been the worst affected by the disaster, with surface water there remaining a problem.

Recent Flood Caused by More than just Deforestation, Official Insists

The Secretary of state of Ministry of Environment, Teuk Krouen Vutha, told news reporters that the current flood disaster is the result of various factors, not simply the destruction of forests, according to the Kampuchea Thmey Daily. Teuk Krouen Vutha, during a national news conference on September 30 said, “We cannot look at only one cause, despite deforestation having been identified to as a chief one for the flooding.” He asked, “How about flooding that happens in developed countries? Is this caused by deforestation? Clearly deforestation is not the only cause of the flooding,” he added.

Warning on Negative Impacts of New NGO Law

The Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper notes that the UN special rapporteur, Surya Subedi, had expressed his concerns about human rights and related issues in Cambodia, especially threats to freedom of speech, to NGOs in general and to opposition party supporters. In an accompanying article, the opposition-aligned newspaper also warned that the impending law, if passed as it is, could result in the country losing access to development assistance from international NGOs.

30^th September 2011

A World Bank report (Gender Equality and Development. World Development Report 2012) published on September 20^th finds that while some groups of poorly-educated young men are doing badly, and despite women’s lives having improved quite markedly over the past 20 years, sexual inequality at work remains remarkably stubborn.

No only do women earn 10-30% less than men, they are also mainly doing so-called “women’s” jobs. And, The Economist magazine notes, this gap is not narrowed by economic growth.

In a survey on the report, The Economist (“Women and Jobs”) says this is surprising because as women become better educated and jobs simply requiring brute strength become scarcer as countries get richer, the opposite might be expected. Yet overall, the gap is no smaller in rich countries, such as Britain and the Netherlands, than in poor ones such as the Philippines, the article points out.

More striking, it says, there is little sign that women are moving into traditionally male occupations. 11% of men work in construction whereas only 1% of women do. Meanwhile, women cluster in communications, retail and public administration, including education and health.

This appears true regardless of national income. Comparing Bangladesh, Mexico and Sweden, the bank found that men and women tended to separate themselves into the same sorts of occupation in all three countries with a couple of unique exceptions (Bangladeshi shops and hotels employ disproportionately more men, for some reason).

The World Bank suggests the same old shibboleths for why this happens, such as discrimination, sexual differences in educational opportunity but mainly it says because women cluster in low-paid fields simply because they do not control their own time. It notes that even in rich Austria and Italy, women do at least three times as much housework and child care as men. Here in n poorer Cambodia, they do 50% more. Income has little to do with this.

Apparently Pakistani men allocate the same amount of time to paid work, housework and child care (shock, horror!) as Swedish men.

Everywhere, this appears to constrain women’s job choices.

Rats, they’re on to us! I thought the whole point of equality was for women to both bring home the bacon and clean the house while I get in touch with my creative side and make the important decisions, like which sport we are going to watch on TV?

(Aside) While you’re up, dear, could you get me a cup of tea?

http://www.economist.com/node/21530159

30^th September 2011

The Shanghai Daily reports deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sar Kheng, saying on Thursday evening that China’s prestige had been higher on the international arena and China’s prosperity had been benefiting both the region and the world.

During the celebration of the 62nd Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which was attended by some 400 people including Cambodian senior government officials, foreign diplomats, Chinese business people and Chinese living in Cambodia, Sar Kheng said the friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and China had become stronger in all sectors.

“The government and people of Cambodia profoundly thank the government and people of China for providing a great deal of assistance to Cambodia for social and economic development in order to alleviate poverty,” he said, adding that “I believe that the bilateral ties will be continued to strengthen and expand eternally.”

The minister also reiterated Cambodia’s stance to support one-China policy.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of China to Cambodia, Pan Guangxue, said that the government of China stuck to its policy to develop the economy peacefully and China would continue its active participation to help the region and the world on social and economic development and humanitarian activities.

For Cambodia and China ties, the two countries had maintained good friendship relations since time immemorial and this continued from generation to generation of leaders, he said, adding that the two countries’ peoples have also created closer ties from day to day.

30^th September 2011

While the floods have killed over 100 people so far over the last week, road accidents had killed 25 and injured another 166 during the Pchhum Ben festival, according to a report from the Ministry of Public Work and Transport on Thursday.

The report showed that a total of 75 road accidents occurred nationwide during this year’s celebration, down 24% compared to 99 over the same period last year.

Preap Chan Vibol, director of the transport department of the Ministry of Public Work and Transport, said Thursday while the number of the dead was still the same as that of last year, the number of injured have dropped 30% to 166 from 239 injured during last year’s celebration.

Road accidents caused by three main factors: over-speed driving, reckless, alcohol driving, and overtaking, he said.

The death toll from road accidents is now the No. 1 killer in Cambodia leading those from HIV/AIDS or mine casualties. In 2010, 1,816 people were killed by road accidents, with 70% of the deaths were motorcycle drivers, according to the reports by the ministry. Moreover, these accidents cost the country $US279 million.

Despite this year’s drop, there is no room for complacency as no doubt the flooded roads greatly reduced numbers wishing to travel and may also have forced drivers to reduce speed.