The Apsara National Authority installed 29 toilets at the homes of villagers in Run Ta Ek commune last month, bringing the total provided to Angkor area residents to 1,110 since 2018.

In a Facebook post, it said there is much more work to be done to make sure all residents in the area have toilets.

It noted that the Angkor Water Cleaning and Water Management Development Project allows residents to pay 60 per cent of the cost to install a toilet, with the authority covering the remaining 40 per cent.

“This contribution is helpful for residents of the Angkor resort area to have sanitary toilets and avoid open defecations in order to reduce diseases. It also encourages local citizens to live clean and it pushes them to take more action to protect the Angkor resort,” it noted.

Apsara National Authority spokesman Long Kosal said on Monday that many toilets are installed daily in the area to help residents who are not able to build them for their use.

He said a lack of toilets still exists, so the Apsara National Authority would continue to encourage locals to take advantage of the programme.

“It is a necessary job for us, so we will continue to build more in order to make sure that citizens can live comfortably. They are one part of the heritage. A lack of toilets is still a challenge, even though some local people have begun taking better care of themselves and their environments,” he said.

Ruon Sithy, who lives in Run Ta Ek commune and received funds from the Apsara National Authority to build a toilet, said on Monday that he appreciated the programme.

“My village still lacks toilets because people do not have much ability to build them on their own. When the Apsara National Authority went to help them, they looked really happy. Before we defecated in the forest, but now we can’t do it anymore,” he said.