Refugees at a temporary shelter in Oddar Meanchey province are working together with locals to grow and harvest vegetables, and also receiving a steady supply of duck eggs and fish from the local community and authorities, while they await permission to return home.
As of February 17, almost 75,000 displaced Cambodians were still unable to return to their homes, because their properties are surrounded by Thai military barricades or so close to the fortifications that their neighbourhoods have been declared red zones. They are among more than 640,000 people who fled to safety when fighting erupted in December, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Yesterday, February 16, refugees and students at a temporary school at the Wat Bat Thkov refugee camp in Choam Ksan district, Oddar Meanchey province, collectively harvested a total of 1000 kilogrammes of morning glory. They also received 1600 duck eggs.
According to officials from the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, vegetable cultivation at the camp began on December 16. To date, eleven harvests have been collected, yielding a total of 15,610 kilogrammes of produce, including morning glory, bok choy and watercress. In addition, 6,890 duck eggs have also been supplied to the displaced people.
Sot Sisokheang, director of the agriculture department, told The Post that vegetable cultivation is done near the temporary camp, but duck and fish farming are carried out in Kon Kriel commune, Samraong town, and then transported to the refugees at the pagoda.
“We raise ducks for eggs and distribute them to the refugee families, who currently have no income. Recently, we have focused on the children because they need nutrition. We distribute food to them when they come to study at the school in the security centre, and they take it home for their mothers to cook,” he said.
He explained that the supply will continue until all of the refugees are able to return home. Currently, the authorities try to supply them with vegetables twice a week. In addition, they are offered training on vegetable cultivation, skills which they can take home with them.