Seeds, hoes and school supplies aid Cambodian flood victims

Mennonite Central Committee
Wednesday, 20 December 2000

Since October 2000, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has donated more than $108,000 Cdn./$70,500 U.S. toward flood relief in Cambodia. Heavy rain and flooding along the Mekong River in September caused widespread damage.

In Prey Veng Province, MCC relief included food, seeds and agricultural tools. The country lost $96 million Cdn./$63 million U.S. in crops and livestock, according to Cambodian officials.

"Relief distributions by both government and non-governmental organizations is shifting from edible rice to rice seed," said Mark Munoz of MCC Cambodia in December.

In November MCC project staff and partners distributed rice seed and hoes to more than 400 families in Prey Veng. This month they will help build culverts along a main road and will distribute rice seed and hoes to an additional 500 families.

In Kandal Province, MCC joined Eastern Mennonite Missions in providing school supplies to students from four flood-damaged schools. More than 30 volunteers distributed 2,655 kits, consisting of a cotton tote bag, five notebooks, two pens, two pencils, one eraser, one ruler and one slate.

"As we walked into each room the children shouted in unison, 'We welcome you' and 'Thank you for coming,'" reported MCC worker Patty Curan. They were trying their hardest to contain their excitement, she said. Curan noticed water stains two feet high on many classroom walls.

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org