Building Wells in Cambodia

Approximately 85% people in the Takeo province of Cambodia do not have access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Many depend on rain water and water holes that are usually contaminated and put villagers at risk from water borne diseases. According to the World Bank, 11,000 children die every year in Cambodia from diarrhoea due to lack of proper sanitation. Water and Sanitation programmes in Cambodia are a top priority. Muslim Aid and the Royal Government with the support of the Ministry of Rural Development, has implemented several water and sanitation projects in Cambodia.

Muslim Aid Cambodia's Combined Water Well project funded by the Australian Government Aus AID has built water wells since November 07 in four villages in the Traing district. Over 600 families have benefited from the project ensuring that they have access to water clean of arsenic and other minerals and that they are not required to walk miles in search of water.

The Environmentally friendly Sanitary Latrine project delivered by Muslim Aid Cambodia in Andeng Saing village in Takeo province constructed latrines for 177 families who do not have access to sanitation facilities.

The project is aimed at raising awareness of hygiene and sanitation in order to prevent diseases particularly amongst children. It is also aimed at improving the environmental pollution in areas where people live close together and the spread of diseases is a greater risk.

The wells were handed over to the beneficiaries in an official presentation in Septemeber 2008 by The Deputy Head of Mission of Australian Embassy to Cambodia Ms. Fiona Cochaud.

''We are very happy to see the excellent work of Muslim Aid, they did for the deserving community maintaining the high quality'' she said.