China donates 1 mln U.S. dollars to Cambodia for flood victims

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 31 -- China on Thursday donated one million U.S. dollars to Cambodia for the relief of the flood- affected people.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo handed over the cash donation to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in the Cambodian capital.

Bu, on behalf of the government and people of China, extended deep sympathy to Cambodia over the loss of lives due to flooding and expressed her confidence that under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodian flood-affected people would get out of difficulties and rebuild their homes soon.

In the name of the Cambodian government and people, Hun Sen expressed sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the government and people of China for supporting Cambodia in difficult times.

The premier said the donation will be used to buy rice for the flood-affected families.

Mekong River and flash floods had hit the country since mid- September, killing at least 168 people and affecting more than 1.8 million people, Nhim Vanda, first vice-president of the National Committee for Disaster Management, said last week.

Some 113,260 hectares of rice paddies, or 4.4 percent of the total rice field, were completely destroyed. Moreover, about 440 km of national roads and 3,693 km of gravel roads were damaged.

He said the damage to property was estimated to top one billion U.S. dollars.

Floods usually hit Cambodia between August and October.