ChildFund distributed food and Covid-19 hygiene kits worth $180,000 to more than 2,600 impoverished households that have been badly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, spread out over 452 villages across four provinces.

The supplies distribution campaign started on August 9 and is scheduled to be completed by August 20 across the provinces of Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Battambang and Kratie.

“Many vulnerable impoverished families are badly impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, particularly during the lockdown periods,” ChildFund said in their press release on August 10.

“ChildFund is assisting in the relief of this situation by distributing food and a Covid-19 hygiene kit to 2,658 poor households in 452 villages,” it said.

Rice, noodles, cooking oils, tinned salmon and milk are all included in the meal package. Covid-19 infection prevention products such as face masks and soap are also included in the kit.

Although ChildFund’s immediate mission is to address food insecurity caused by Covid-19 by providing food assistance to families with vulnerable children, the organization recognizes that the project can also indirectly help to address mental health and domestic violence issues, the press release said.

“This is our effort to assist the government in ensuring that affected children and their families survive the lockdown and remain at home, preventing the spread of infections,” ChildFund country director Prashant Verma said in the press release.

ChildFund cited the recent study done by World Vision and Cooperation Committee for Cambodia which presented the findings of a survey focusing on the developing Covid-19-related needs of Cambodia’s most vulnerable communities.

The study determined that food assistance and Covid-19 prevention supplies like masks, alcohol and medicines are needed most, as well as psychological and emotional support through visits and counseling, were the most reported requirements needed to be met.

ChildFund also supported 275,000 children and their families in these provinces earlier through two implementations of Covid-19 administrative measures by distributing hygiene kits and also supporting primary schools for their preparations to be ready to accommodate children safely.

“ChildFund also collaborates with the Ministry of Education on long-term measures to ensure that children remain educated during the pandemic, and that children in rural areas, in particular, can benefit from high-quality distance learning similar to that available in cities,” Verma said.

Kiv Phalla, the chief of Sandan commune in Kratie province’s Sambo district, told The Post on August 10 that this was not the first time that ChildFund had personally visited suffering families in his area and that the implementation of their assistance was “critical” to ensuring that truly poor families received the help they need.

“ChildFund not only helps with these acts of charitable giving, the organization has also helped a lot by focusing on services for children, especially in the fields of education and child protection,” he said.