The Ministry of National Defense has established a coordination team to manage emergency response and rehabilitation for disasters like building collapses and floods, aiming to mitigate risks and support affected communities.
The decision to create the Emergency Response and Rehabilitation Coordination Team was taken on February 26 and announced the following day, according to the ministry’s website.
Ministry secretary of state Moeng Samphan, chairman of the working group, highlighted the ministry’s extensive experience in rescue operations nationwide.
He cited instances such as the passenger plane crash in Kampot province, the collapses of multi-storey buildings in Preah Sihanouk and Kep provinces and rescue operations during floods around Phnom Penh and other areas.
“Therefore, given our armed forces’ past experience, we are prepared for most challenges, except for the sinking of large ships, where our ability and experience are limited,” he said.
Samphan also directed relevant units to ensure that equipment such as helicopters, ships, speedboats, trucks, ambulances and other resources are regularly maintained and ready for deployment to facilitate timely operations in the event of natural disasters.
“All relevant units of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces [RCAF] will be on regular standby to conduct disaster rescue operations, ensuring the safety of the property and lives of the affected people, in line with the directives of the government,” he added.
Soth Kim Kolmony, spokesperson for the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), emphasised the significance of emergency response and rehabilitation efforts in society.
He noted that the government is keenly focused on mitigating the impacts of disasters and aiding affected communities.
He stated that it is revising national and sub-national disaster response plans for 2024-2028, which includes enhancing information and data collection systems, conducting drills and explorations, building the capacity of officials and fostering collaboration with development partners, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the private sector.
“While our operations force is adequately trained and capable of responding to various disasters, they are not yet equipped to handle large shipwreck rescues,” Kim Kolmony stated.
“Particularly in dealing with floods, building collapses, fires and similar incidents, we are well-equipped with rescue equipment and skills, along with effective coordination mechanisms. Nevertheless, we are committed to continuously providing training to further enhance our capacity,” he added.
Kim Kolmony acknowledged that while the force’s capacity in both on-ground and in-water rescues is still developing, the government is actively enhancing the capabilities of operators through both domestic and international training.
He also noted that the NCDM regularly focuses on supplying additional equipment and resources to the operations force.
Thong Mengdavid, a research supervisor at the Asian Vision Institute’s (AVI) Mekong Centre for Strategic Studies and a security expert, highlighted the Cambodian military’s commitment to public safety and its ongoing efforts to improve training and learn new techniques for responding to hazardous situations and mitigating risks.
“The establishment of the working group also demonstrates the government’s commitment to maintaining the safety and the lives of the people through an immediate and timely response,” he stated.
Mengdavid noted that Cambodia is preparing for disaster relief exercises with Laos and Vietnam to exchange experiences, enhance capacity building and develop plans for disaster prevention and control.
