Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet Urges Nation to Prioritize Disaster Management on National Day

Phnom Penh, Cambodia - October 13rd. On the occasion of National Disaster Management Day on October 13rd, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet issued a compelling open letter, underscoring that disaster management is a crucial, multi-departmental, and collaborative task that impacts every facet of the nation's economy and society. The Prime Minister called on departments at all levels of government to treat disaster as a core responsibility and to actively work towards enhancing Cambodia's overall disaster resilience.

In his letter, Hun Manet acknowledged the complex crises currently facing the world, which are driven by a combination of natural and human factors. He specifically highlighted that climate change is fueling the increasing frequency of natural disasters—such as floods, storms, earthquakes, forest fires, and epidemics—affecting nations across the economic spectrum. Compounding this situation are ongoing armed conflicts and other man-made disasters in various regions, which further complicate global stability. The Prime Minister emphasized that Cambodia is not immune to these global trends. The country is experiencing the direct consequences of climate change, manifested through increased high temperatures, rainfall, tornadoes and lightning strikes, riverbank collapses, the spread of infectious diseases, and fires. These events, he warned, pose a serious threat to the lives and property of the Cambodian people.

In response to these challenges, the Prime Minister affirmed the Cambodian government's commitment to tackling the issue head-on. With the National Committee for Disaster Management at its core, the government is integrating all its efforts, means, and resources in a wide-ranging collaboration. This effort includes government departments at all levels, the armed forces, the Cambodian Red Cross, the private sector, and civil society. The goal of this collective action, he stated, is to jointly advance disaster risk prevention and control, minimize loss of life and property, and provide comprehensive support to all affected communities, ensuring that "no one is left behind." The Prime Minister specifically cited the government’s recent actions in implementing effective humanitarian assistance for those displaced by the recent conflict along the Cambodia-Thailand border, noting it as an example of the nation fulfilling its obligations to its citizens.

This year’s National Disaster Management Day, themed "Daily Steps Toward Disaster Resilience Today," aligns with both ASEAN Disaster Management Day and the International Day for Disaster Reduction. This synchronicity demonstrates Cambodia's unwavering commitment to collaboratively advancing disaster risk reduction efforts at the national, regional, and global levels.