Cambodia

Cambodia is a small country with an area of 181,035 km 2 (three times smaller than France ). It has 13.1 million inhabitants. It became a constitutional monarchy after the Paris Peace Agreements and the 1993 elections. However, thirty years of civil war have greatly disrupted the society and economy, rendering Cambodia one of the least developed countries in the region. About 36% of the population lives under the poverty line.

According to 1998 UNPF statistics, only a small part of the essentially rural Cambodian population has access to basic medical care (52%), drinking water (35%) and sanitation (15%). 55% of children under five (especially in rural areas) have signs of malnutrition which can hinder their physical and intellectual growth and development.

The lack of information and education about health, nutrition, and hygiene lead to a high level of illness among children. These figures increased during epidemics or natural disasters such as the floods of September and October 2000 that destroyed crops and prevented children from going to school.

While the progress in education over the last ten years has been significant, it still remains insufficient to counter the pauperization of the least fortunate and the increase in the illiteracy rate. About 200,000 children are doomed to remain illiterate each year. The access to knowledge is secondary for parents who often have a low level of education themselves. They just don't see the advantages of an education, especially for girls.

In rural areas, paying, stable jobs are still scarce and many families have no choice in case of illness or bad crops but to carry out loans from loan sharks. Extreme poverty in many villages with no financial outlets increases the migration of young people and encourages child trafficking (especially of girls). The majority of the 60,000 prostitutes that have been counted come from the poorest villages in the country.

> History of E&D in Cambodia

> Projects in Progress :

>Program for development and family follow-up in periurban settings

>Program for development and family follow-up in rural settings