Together we can make a difference

Pailin is a small municipality in the west of Cambodia on the border of Thailand, and surrounded on all other sides by Battambang Province. In the late 1970s, Pailin was a prosperous town due to the great deal of gem deposits located in the surrounding countryside. These valuable resources meant that it was one of the first cities invaded by the Khmer Rouge when they began their major offensive against the regime that they eventually replaced. For decades the area was a major Khmer Rouge stronghold with enormous strategic value. In the past it has seen heavy and protracted periods of violent conflict, with vast tracts of land ravaged throughout the fighting. Pailin remained under Khmer Rouge control long after they were defeated in 1979. Originally part of Battambang, the province was carved out of Battambang Province as its own separate administrative region when the remaining faction of the Khmer Rouge finally surrendered the area in 1996.

By this time the explosive legacy of the conflict was having a serious impact for those who had returned to what was left of their province or new settlers in the area. People continue to lose their lives and get injured as a result of landmines and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). Whilst farming, travelling, fishing or playing, adults and children have been severely wounded or killed across the province, resulted from the past conflict there are 1443 disabled persons among the 71,600 population in this small province with 803km². COVID-19 and the recent flooding affected in this beautiful province, communities and people are facing lots of difficulties as their crop/farm has been destroyed by the flood, especially the disabled families.

In the morning of Tuesday 17th November 2020 after the sun rise, the SBC foundation delivered 500 emergency food/ hygiene packs to 500 disabled ID poor families through the collaboration with the Cambodia Mine Action Authority and Victim Assistance and the Pailin provincial administration.

“ This is not  the first time that CMAA have collaborated with the SBC Foundation,  On behalf of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the first vice President of the  Cambodia Mine  Action  and Victim Assistance Authority, I would like to greatly appreciate and thank the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation for its generous Cooperation and partnership with the Royal Government Of Cambodia, who have joined together with Cambodia to fight against the COVID-19 outbreak which has affected our communities especially our disabled victims’ families from landmines and explosive remnants of war. The generosity of the SBC foundation and the people of the United Kingdom towards Cambodia and the Cambodian people is invaluable and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation, which represents Ms. Rothna Buth, Country Director, for supporting the Royal Government in preventing Covid-19 and addressing the plight of victims. Due to landmines, explosive remnants of war and other general disabilities that were previously provided in Pursat, Svay Rieng, Kandal and Pailin today, another 500 people / family, a total of over than  2,000 people / families during the outbreak Of Covid-19 disease”  Senior Minister H.E Ly Thuch said.

500 disabled families from pailin and sala Krau districts have received the emergency  food packs from the SBC Foundation, included  a sack of jasmine rice,  fish sauces, soy sauces, a box of instant noodles, cranes fish,  hand soaps and face masks/ shields.

View the video here.