Cambodia is exposed to many natural disasters and hazards, more so than other countries due to its geographical location and lack of sufficient infrastructure. The ability to overcome severe natural disasters in Cambodia is difficult due to the scarce resources the people and government have available to their use. One of the biggest downfalls of Cambodia as a Country in my opinion is the fact that they have very little public education. Public Education can impact a country like Cambodia positively when it comes to catastrophes and natural disasters in a number of ways. People who are affected by natural disasters the most are often not educated on how these incidents can affect them or how to deal with them when they occur. I think America is very well versed when it comes to public education. In America there are (IAP’s)or incident action plans for just about everything and they are taught in schools to youth and even posted in many public building that hold Educational or Assembly status. Cambodia’s Public school system is not regulated by the Government so often only family’s with money get to go to what they call primary school. If people were informed on Incident action plans for disasters then there would be less money wasted and more lives saved.
The natural hazards that impact Cambodia the greatest is flooding and lightning.Cambodia is subjected to flooding so frequently due to its location on the Mekong river and the impacting monsoon season. The lightning Cambodia has is so significant because of its location next to large bodies of water that provide moisture to the air and the exposure to the sun Cambodia receives creates warm air near the ground which causes unstable air resulting in thunderstorms.
In 2018 Lightning claimed the lives of 118 Cambodian people, which has elevated 37% the previous year. Lightning in cambodia mainly takes place in the rainy reason typically from May through October. Hundreds of cattle are also killed by lightning each year in Cambodia. Housing and structures are also greatly affected in thunderstorms displacing many people. Cambodians rely heavily on livestock and farming for money or food to survive. Rice patties are in large bodys of water and people have to step in the water to work with the rice. When lightning strikes the water your standing in its most likely yout going to die, the farm animals die in a similar way. Cambodia is extremely prone to floods so staying out of water during a thunderstorm can be difficult.
If I were to recommend a way to address the hazards lightning presents I would
- Stay out of water during thunderstorms
- Do not shelter under trees
- Limit use of cell phones or electronic devices during the thunder
- Move from outdoors to inside or a car
- Pay attention to weather forecasts
Flooding is by far the worst natural disaster that takes place in cambodia due to its geographical location along the Mekong river. In the summer and autumn of 2000, more than 225 people were killed and thousands were made homeless by Mekong River flooding. Over 1 million people were directly affected and 18 of the 24 Provinces were affected by the floods in 2000. Families often make their homes or living arrangements near the Mekong river because it has sustained their work and nutrition. Families that aren't prepared for the floods often lose their homes and have to relocate. Some families live in “floating villages” to adapt around the flood season. Their houses are on stilts that keep their homes above the sea level .
Southeast Asia revolves around the Mekong’s seasonal floods. Eighty to ninety percent of the river’s flow occurs during the flood season, which runs from June to November. This flush of water creates wetland habitats and draws nutrients from land into the river to feed a diverse fish population. The floods can damage crops, but they also lay down nutrient-rich soil that naturally fertilizes fields.
. The Mekong River Commission estimates that the annual flood causes 60 to 70 million dollars in damage, but brings 8 to 10 billion dollars into the economies of Southeast Asia.Disaster relief in Cambodia is very poor, during the floods that impacted millions of people Corrupt officials were putting the aid money from the government of foreign donors into their own pocket and not the flood victims. Food aid and tents that was given out to villages that supported the ruling party and not given to ones that supported the opposition. There were also reports of price gouging by merchants. If I would implement a plan for floods it would be to:
- Evacuate to higher land
- Keep informed on the flood
- Avoid flood areas
- Have a Pre incident plan
If I were to construct a house in cambodia it would have to be on Phnom Sampov in the Battambang province.This location is higher in altitude and away from any large body of water so you wouldn't have to worry about floods and being in target areas for lightning strikes. Cambodia isn't on any major faults or boundaries so you wouldn't have to worry about earthquakes.
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