Prime Minister Hun Sen announced plans to visit and deliver supplies to 15,000 families in Banteay Meanchey province on Saturday.

The announcement comes on the heels of a Thursday visit to the province in which he delivered first aid to 10,000 families in Thma Puok district and Poipet town.

The day before, the prime minister also donated food to 10,000 families in Mongkol Borei district.

“The donations are to ease the difficulty on people who are facing an emergency because of the floods,” he said.

Banteay Meanchey is one of the 18 provinces affected by flooding and was the hardest hit. Hun Sen said the visits are to check on the situation and impact.

In a report released on Thursday, the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) said flooding in Phnom Penh and 18 provinces had claimed 39 lives. In Banteay Meanchey alone, 22 people died.

According to the report, flooding directly affected 483,140 people, of whom 46,216 were evacuated.

Flooding damaged 707 schools, 232,551ha of rice crops, 83,918ha of cash crops and more than 2,000km of roads.

Hun Sen also reminded local authorities to check flood developments and the safety of local people. He said people must continue to follow hygiene rules and the Ministry of Health’s guidance to avoid contagious diseases.

“People lost their lives because of the floods. So, we have to continue to follow hygiene rules and the health ministry’s guidance so we don’t lose more to disease,” he said.

The prime minister also met with disabled families living in flooded houses. He urged more sympathy for disabled people and not look down on them.

He encouraged people to continue to donate essential items to the flood victims. He considered generous deeds the best expression of solidarity.

Hun Sen also recalled the history of the land around Poipet town, saying it was once the strongest battlefield before becoming a peaceful and rapidly developed zone.

“We have to unite to overcome various obstacles for Cambodia to be stronger,” he said.