COVID-19 PANDEMIC: PHNOM PENH- Government launches vulnerable family subsidies

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Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Wednesday he will officially launch the government’s cash subsidy programme for poor and vulnerable families adversely affected by COVID-19.

He said to address the difficulties of the poor and vulnerable, the government issued guidance on May 25 to all national working groups to identify poor families.

By identifying them, he said, the government can better target beneficiaries for the cash subsidy program.

The Ministry of Planning Deputy Director-General Nop Kannavuth said the subsidies aim to support poor families in three designated regions in Cambodia. He also added that there are two levels of classification.

He told Khmer Times: “In Phnom Penh and in provincial towns, a level one classified poor family will receive a blanket $30 payout, with each individual member receiving a further $13. Children under five, disabled people, citizens with HIV or citizens 60 years of age or older will receive $10 each.

Across the rest of the country, a level one classified poor family will receive $20, with each member receiving a further $6.  Children under five, disabled people, citizens with HIV or citizens 60 years of age or older will receive $6 each.

“In Phnom Penh and in provincial towns, a level two classified poor family will receive a $30 payout, with each individual member receiving a further $9. Children under five, disabled people, citizens with HIV or citizens 60 years of age or older will receive $7 each.

Across the rest of the country, a level two classified poor family will receive  $20, with each member receiving a further $4.  Children under five, disabled people, citizens with HIV or citizens 60 years of age or older will receive $4 each.

The Ministry of Planning added more than 567,505 families, or 2.3 million people, have been adversely affected by COVID-19.

Bavel commune chief Sam Oun said he did not know when the poor people would be subsidised but surveys had been carried out to identify beneficiaries in the area.

Khann Chanvirak / Khmer Times

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