Cindy McCain (R), the wife of presumptive Republican U.S. presidential candidate John McCain, walks with facial deformity patient Le Thi Phuoc, 11, during a visit to a hospital in Vietnam's central Nha Trang city June 19, 2008. McCain is in Vietnam as part of her Asian tour to Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia to promote the Virginia-based Operation Smiles Charity. REUTERS/Kham 2008-06-23
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Cindy McCain, wife of U.S. Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting Sen. John McCain, visited the Cambodian capital's garbage dump Monday and met with impoverished children who scavenge there.
McCain visited the sprawling Stung Meanchey dump, a depository for the refuse of Phnom Penh's 1.5 million people, said Pen Kosal, an official with For the Smile of a Child, a French aid group that helps feed children who scavenge the dump.
McCain toured the aid group's office, which is located near the dump, and spoke to several children as they ate breakfast, he said.
«She was very simple and liked the children very much. She even hugged some of them regardless of their dirty clothes,» he said.
The aid group receives rice donations from the U.N's World Food Program to feed some 6,000 boys and girls, most of whom live with their families near the dump and scavenge discarded bottles, cans, plastic and other scraps to sell for a living.
Jeff Daigle, the U.S. Embassy spokesman, declined to comment on Cindy McCain's trip, saying it was private and organized by the World Food Program. McCain, a philanthropist with a long experience in humanitarian assistance, was in Cambodia on the last stop of a three-nation tour. She also visited Vietnam and Thailand.
An official at the WFP also declined comment and said the trip was not open to media coverage.
After visiting the dump, Cindy McCain was scheduled to travel to an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS in Takeo province, 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Phnom Penh.
McCain visited the sprawling Stung Meanchey dump, a depository for the refuse of Phnom Penh's 1.5 million people, said Pen Kosal, an official with For the Smile of a Child, a French aid group that helps feed children who scavenge the dump.
McCain toured the aid group's office, which is located near the dump, and spoke to several children as they ate breakfast, he said.
«She was very simple and liked the children very much. She even hugged some of them regardless of their dirty clothes,» he said.
The aid group receives rice donations from the U.N's World Food Program to feed some 6,000 boys and girls, most of whom live with their families near the dump and scavenge discarded bottles, cans, plastic and other scraps to sell for a living.
Jeff Daigle, the U.S. Embassy spokesman, declined to comment on Cindy McCain's trip, saying it was private and organized by the World Food Program. McCain, a philanthropist with a long experience in humanitarian assistance, was in Cambodia on the last stop of a three-nation tour. She also visited Vietnam and Thailand.
An official at the WFP also declined comment and said the trip was not open to media coverage.
After visiting the dump, Cindy McCain was scheduled to travel to an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS in Takeo province, 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Phnom Penh.
17 comments:
for some freedom and decracy-loving Cambodians, they are very honored indeed to have Cindy McCain visit
correction: decracy=democracy
PLS help us to cure our painful political problem which caused by OUR rude PM!!!
God Bless US and Cambodia!!!
yes, influential american figure(s) can help change and reform cambodia in a way. thank you and god bless the USA and cambodia.
We will say yest to USA and ABSOLUTELY to the RED!!!
Just send plenty of cashes and we'll take care of it.
actually, don't we need technological assistance as well? not just cash, american technology and experts. thank you.
I think it's wonderful that Cindy McCain is out making visits and that there is coverage. I am however surprised that no one has mentioned the underlying implications of class.
"«She was very simple and liked the children very much. She even hugged some of them regardless of their dirty clothes,» he said."
Let's consider this, she visited a dump site. The chances of getting your clothes dirty is what I'd consider to be a "given", hence why is it such a big deal that she gave those children hugs? And also, how else would one be expected to appear other than "simple" at a garbage dump site?
The children of Cambodia whether or not they scavenge from garbage dump sites are no less of a person than Cindy McCain and thus should not be treated any lesser.
thank you for pointing that out about ms. cindy mccain. may god bless her and her family.
Thank you Cindy ,we people khmer we love you and all people of USA.
2:13Am, WATH IS WRONG WITH YOU? HOW ABOUT PEOPLE NEVER DO ANY THING LIKE YOU DO FOR POOR KID? STAY AWAY?
McCain will get my vote in November.
thank you for visiting cambodian slum.this is cambodian children living on less than .25 cents aday sometime nothing
Have BUN NARY HUNSEN ever visit the dumpsite ?
Bun Rany has never visited the dump site because her husband is blind. Let's vote for McCain.
We all know what the dump site is like. Why visit it? Did anyone order people to work there?
AN UNEDUCATED PERSON LIKE 6:43 WOULD NEVER UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT NOR WILL I WASTE MY TIME TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT.
IGNORANT WILL GET YOU KILL!
LOOK AT POL POT FOR EXAMPLE.
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