DPA
Sihanoukville, Cambodia - Hundreds of Cambodians have flocked to visit a free US military clinic set up during the visit of the destroyer USS Mustin, officials said Wednesday. The 155-metre-long USS Mustin (DDG-89), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, arrived with its crew of nearly 300 to embark on a six-day goodwill mission Saturday and its medical crew is expected to have treated nearly 1,000 people by Wednesday, the US navy said.
The clinic includes free dental treatment and general medicine and has set up in a Buddhist pagoda in a poor fishing area called Prey Nop, which also has a high number of ethnic Muslim Cham.
"It's been very rewarding and diverse," said US naval doctor Mike Banforth, who said most patients were presenting with conditions easily treated with medication that they were just too poor to afford.
The goodwill visit - the third since war stopped US naval visits in 1975 - will also feature training programmes with Cambodian naval personnel and demonstration operations, including disaster rescue.
US-Cambodian relations are at a high not seen for decades, and the US has pledged continued humanitarian aid as well as non-lethal military assistance to the country's armed forces.
For Vong Bok, 45, part of a community where 40 per cent of the 5,000-strong population live under the poverty line, free medical care has won him over to the US, which many Cambodians still resent for its secret bombing raids of the 1970s and the subsequent rise of the Khmer Rouge, under which up to 2 million Cambodians died.
"I could never afford this. I welcome the US ship back anytime," said Bok after receiving medicine for a chest infection.
Prey Nop, a district of the southern seaport of Sihanoukville, is 240 kilometres from the capital Phnom Penh.
The clinic includes free dental treatment and general medicine and has set up in a Buddhist pagoda in a poor fishing area called Prey Nop, which also has a high number of ethnic Muslim Cham.
"It's been very rewarding and diverse," said US naval doctor Mike Banforth, who said most patients were presenting with conditions easily treated with medication that they were just too poor to afford.
The goodwill visit - the third since war stopped US naval visits in 1975 - will also feature training programmes with Cambodian naval personnel and demonstration operations, including disaster rescue.
US-Cambodian relations are at a high not seen for decades, and the US has pledged continued humanitarian aid as well as non-lethal military assistance to the country's armed forces.
For Vong Bok, 45, part of a community where 40 per cent of the 5,000-strong population live under the poverty line, free medical care has won him over to the US, which many Cambodians still resent for its secret bombing raids of the 1970s and the subsequent rise of the Khmer Rouge, under which up to 2 million Cambodians died.
"I could never afford this. I welcome the US ship back anytime," said Bok after receiving medicine for a chest infection.
Prey Nop, a district of the southern seaport of Sihanoukville, is 240 kilometres from the capital Phnom Penh.
12 comments:
Where were you when WE needed assistance during a time of CRISIS?
Why now?
Hey men! 1:43 PM, I agree with you where were these mustin things when we were blamed of siding US and tortured to work and starve to dead during the genocide regime, and why now? But, let' stop discourage people when they are willing to help. Let them help our poor people, at least both side get relieved of this action, especially the poor villagers. Let's keep the past behind our back, watch into the future. Make more friend is better than making enemies. Even they come for blackgold or something like that, at least to have good relation with the US is not bad, may be they can support us to fight diplomatically the agressor/border land thief for the sake of securing the oil (both oil from the underground and biofuel). If America said it was the military map drawn for the cold was purpose, the Siam will have nothing to say. Hey be wise khmers. We have to learn from the past and don't let it repeat again. Don't let them cheat us like before.
Thanks to Mistin destroyer. Grateful for your visit and medical assistance to the poors. Gods bless Cambodia and America!
Thanks, but not thanks!
I really enjoy peace and tranquility of the atmosphere in Cambodia while is not being contaminated by other foreign pollution.
Please DO NOT use Cambodia as a dumping ground in an exchange of a diminutive medical assistance. Also, this is nothing but a pathetic and desperate attempt to benefit from the underpriviledged people.
I have to completely concur with 1:43 PM's assertion.
The US is clearly behind the Preah Vihear temple issue, and ironically the US is now protecting us from on the new fronteer (sea). I wonder what Thailad has to say about this issue.
Yeah, what the thais want is 50/50 of oil profit which we should say no. They always want everything we have to share with them. Look at the tourism industry, they got lots of profits of tourists coming to visit Cambodia, let's say expending their new airport, transiting there and spend time in Thailand before coming to Cambodia. And that's why they want to grab Preah Vihear as they Si Chhkanh of preah vihear ticket sale and transport tourists from BKK to visit the temple and so on and on want to grab ta krabei and ta moan so tourists can come to visit through thai land give income to their ppl. They don't care about temple they care about income that 's it. Khmers care about the soul of temples including preah vihear, ta moan and ta krabei. Wait and see what will be the result of the meeting today on border issue.
Whatever, if khmers are wise enough and learn from the past lessons, we would not let them damn our country again. Khmer United khmer Rous!
God bless cambodia!
the USA is kissing hun sen's ass HAHA!
2:40pm, Yeah, u can enjoy the peace and tranquility all you want....but don't try to discourage people from abroad, whether they're America or any nationalities, to come help your people. No person with a brain will side with u. U can say whatever the hell u want cuz u have a better life than the rest of these people. These people are dirt poor and are in need of medical help. They are very grateful to get these "real doctors" to help them out. As the majority of the doctors in Srok Khmer truly know what they're doing.
So stop being so UNGRATEFUL and use your brain before u try to say something.
Why don't the Cambodian government tell the US to have the Preah Vihear temple issue settle, then we'll let the US sniff our oil (if there any).
The US has been ALWAYS the problem -- NOT solution (in Cambodia or other countries).
correction for message 6:21pm: "it's truly NOt know"
It's a problem of Khmer leaders themself. If leaders can make use of this kind of aids correctly, Khmers' lives can be improved. During the VN war, if Sihanouk didn't let VN troops stayed and fought from Cambodia, Cambodia would not have been a killing field. Again, if Lon Nol government was not corrupted, KR+VV would not be able to advance.
IF NOT THE SIHAKNUK GAME FOR EVERY BODY TO LOSE THE WAR lON NOL WON'T LOOSE IT .SO EVERY THING SIHAKNUK FAULT I WAS THE WITNESS OF THAT HAPPEN DO NOT TAKING LON NOL CORRUPTION AS TOPIC THAT WAS A PLAN.
LOOK AT HUN SEN HOW WORSE IT CPP CORRUPTION?HOW IGNORANT ARE CPP?
ARE THEY GETTING TO THE HELL GATE YET?
ALL THE BLAME ARE SIHAKNUK THE POLITIC SCENE CREATOR
No matter what's other people saying about the past,But i want to say Thank you for United State send help or Understand what's our Khmer people need at this time.
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