PHNOM PENH, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Cambodia is still in emergency relief
mode though flood waters in some areas are beginning to stabilize,
the international humanitarian agency Oxfam said Tuesday in its press
release.

Affected populations are in need of food, plastic sheets, mosquito
nets, water filters and water containers among other non- food item
needs, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

Livelihoods have greatly been threatened especially with loss of the
current rice crop. Wage labour opportunities are no longer available
to those who rely on agriculture labour for income, the release said.

According to Oxfam, 5,000 families or about 20,000 people need
immediate assistance in four provinces.

This figure may grow bigger as more information is received and more
areas accessed. Oxfam's staff reported that flood victims in Kampong
Thom, Stueng Treng, Kratie, and Preah Vihear remain among the most
vulnerable.

"We can't underestimate the situation" said Francis Perez, Country
Lead of Oxfam International in Cambodia.

"We are still in an emergency situation. Public health concerns and
people's livelihoods are our priorities. We must keep strong
coordination with other humanitarian agencies."

It is now estimated that 60,000 people are affected with at least 17
deaths including one pregnant woman, 65 injured with 18 serious cases
and 30,000 hectares of rice fields and plantation destroyed by flood
waters.

Oxfam's field reports show that 1,519 houses, 55 public buildings, 40
km of rural roads, 160 irrigation systems, channels, dams,
embankments, and three bridges were damaged, causing major disruption
to people's livelihoods. Relief works are hampered by transportation
problem as roads and bridges have been damaged.

The traditionally dispersed settlements of Cambodian people also make
some of the forested villages inaccessible for need assessment and
aid distribution, whilst public health concerns are mounting among
unaccounted population in remote and forested villages.

Oxfam's health experts warn that people must be careful about
drinking water, as flood waters are highly contaminated.

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