Social Affairs Minister Chea Somethy during the ministry’s annual meeting, held on February 5 to review its work of 2023 and set goals for 2024. Heng Chivoan
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation has issued more than $1.4 billion in cash transfers to support more than one million of Cambodia’s most vulnerable households.
Minister Chea Somethy revealed the figure while addressing the ministry’s annual meeting, held on February 5 to review its work of 2023 and set goals for 2024.
He highlighted several accomplishments and outlined possible challenges which may lie ahead.
Somethy explained that the $1.4 billion covered five social intervention programmes.
The first, which has now been made permanent, offers cash support to pregnant women and the mothers of children under 2. More than 360,000 people have received a total of $32 million.
The second is a cash transfer programme for poor and vulnerable families affected by the economic effects of the epidemic. The programme began in June 2020, and as of January 24 around 710,000 households had received $1.306 billion in support.
The third package was rolled out at the peak of Covid-19 from July to October 2021, when the government was forced to enforce lockdowns in the capital and some parts of the provinces. The programme targeted the impoverished, the Covid-19 positive and those who had family members who passed away from the disease. It saw $6.68 million paid to 129,666 households.
The fourth was organised to support the victims of flooding. From December 2022 until March last year, 99,169 households collected $11.70 million.
The final programme was introduced to support families who were suffering from inflationary pressures. Implemented from December 2022 to July last year, $44 million was spent, benefitting 494,307 households.
“Against the backdrop of these achievements, we still face several challenges. It will require concerted efforts to find solutions to issues such as climate change, as well as possible outbreaks of novel diseases. We must provide support to the homeless and take care of drug users,” said Somethy.
“We must also be ready to deal with cases of human trafficking, as well as labour and sexual exploitation,” he added, reminding the assembled officials to pay close attention to these issues.
The minister also outlined plans for an elderly care centre, which is currently under construction and will be ready in the near future. The ministry intends to use the facility to train caregivers for the elderly.
In addition, a national centre for people with disabilities is being built in Kandal province’s Ang Snuol district.
Yong Kim Eng, president of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace, said the government’s timely cash support programmes should be applauded. He urged the authorities to ensure that all beneficiaries receive equal treatment, and warned against any misconduct taking place during the distribution of funds.
“They must make sure that the support reaches those who are really in need,” he said.
According to a ministry report, in 2023, it was also responsible for many other social services, including 270 centres for care for the elderly and veterans, child protection operations and childcare centres.
