Cambodia

Context at a glance

Dy Van Oun, his wife Chour Chakrya and their children will become one of the first families to be housed with the support of HFH Cambodia

Cambodia is located in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is rich in natural beauty and heritage and the world-renowned temple complexes of Angkor Wat date back thousands of years. Yet, shadows of the country's tragic past haunt many Cambodians as they are faced with the consequences of war, the murderous Pol Pot regime and decades of poverty.

Poverty is primarily a rural issue with 93% of Cambodians living in the countryside. Yet in and around the capital Phnom Penh are some 35,000 squatters.

Working in street stalls, on construction sites, driving taxis or even serving as soldiers and police officers, people's daily incomes average just over £1. This is much higher than in rural areas. But even with steady incomes, squatter families face high living costs, indebtedness, and a lack of water, sanitation or drainage.

Habitat for Humanity programme

Habitat for Humanity Cambodia focuses on urban poverty. It was formally registered with the government in January 2003 and has established strong partnerships with other non-government organisations such as BILEG Community Outreach International, World Vision, and Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Development Association.

A Habitat house usually occupies 4 x 8 metres of space and is 4.5 metres high. The walls are made from fired brick with reinforced concrete posts. The house comprises a living room, bedroom, and kitchen with a toilet. Partner families repay their Habitat house loan over a maximum of six years. The repayment cost is £12 per month.

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