Anti-drug and anti-plastic campaigns are being held during the Water Festival, with authorities expecting their messages to be widely disseminated.

The National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) organised parades which are being held at various locations with large crowds during this year's celebration to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs.

Meas Vyrith, secretary general of the NACD, stated that anti-drug campaign required concerted efforts to make the public understand its impact and to avoid illicit substances. 

He urged the public to join the group along with officials in spreading anti-substance abuse messages.

"During the festival, we organised rallies and matches with banners and distributed leaflets to catch the attention of holidaymakers. We displayed messages detailing the dangers caused by drugs," he said.

According to Vyrith, the drive was jointly held by youth from the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC), the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) and civil society organisations.

He expected that those who saw the campaigns would spread educational messages about the dangers of drugs once they returned home from the festival.

The Ministry of Environment and Phnom Penh municipal authorities also held a drive calling for the public to maintain a clean environment through good trash disposal practices.

“Today I will not use plastic” campaign at the Water Festival in Phnom Penh. Ministry of Environment

Young people from the Cambodian Education and Waste Management Organization (COMPED), the Farmer Association for Livelihood Development (FALD) and others joined the bodies for the campaign, which aligned with the ministry’s “Today I will not use plastic” initiative.

"The [ministry] encourages everyone, both the public and visitors attending the Water Festival, to join us in our efforts to protect the environment. By practicing good hygiene, we can make Cambodia, our beloved home, a more beautiful place," the ministry stated.