Landmine clearing plan is another opportunity for Phnom Penh to beg for more donation

Cambodia needs 10 more years to clear all land mines

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 4 (Xinhua)-- Cambodia has officially requested donor community to extend another 10 years to clear land mines covering the country, said a government official.

Leng Sochea, deputy secretary general of the Cambodia Mine Action Authority said Friday that Cambodia made a request to extend another 10 years to clear all land mines in Cambodia at the summit on a mine-free world, which is being held this week in Cartagena, Colombia.

He said that Cambodia, as a signatory to Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty, was originally planning to clear all anti-personnel mines by the end of this year, but it becomes unrealistic and needs to adjust the timeline.

However, he said, the Cambodian government's commitment to clear all mines within the next 10 years will again depend on donors' community and Cambodia needs a total of 330 million U.S. dollars.

Casualties caused by land mines are still a worrisome fact for many Cambodians living in northwestern parts of the country, even though the number of casualties has declined year by year.

Cambodia recorded a total casualty of up to 4,320 by mines in1996, but the number fell to 271 in 2008.

Civil war had lasted for nearly three decades in the country since late 1960s.

PLEASE HELP ME!

My name is DaVik Teng. I live in Svay Chrom village, Battambong province, Cambodia. I am 9 years old, and I have two large holes in my heart. For the past 8½ years I have not been able to breathe, to play, to walk, or travel far like healthy kids can normally do. I know that my heart defect will eventually kill me – but I refuse to die. I need to make a long and tiresome journey to the U.S for an open-heart surgery. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Variety Children’s Lifeline and Hearts Without Boundaries can sponsor the expenses for my trip and surgery.

In order to make the trip I need to get stronger and to eat good healthy food that my family cannot afford, as well as take vitamins and medications. My mom makes $1.00 a day as a construction worker and cannot afford my extra expenses. Any help you can give will allow me to have a chance at a normal childhood and productive life. I am praying for a miracle!

• In October 2007, I was denied a surgery by a cardiac team from the U.S during their mission to help fix the hearts of 21 children at Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap because the holes in my heart were too big for the hospital to accommodate such a surgery.
• In November 2007 I got a second chance to have surgery at the Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh, but the team discovered that my blood count was too low and my body was too weak for an open-heart surgery.

Now, you know my story. My heart calls out to your heart as I invite you to become a donor, large or small, to help me live a normal, productive life.

Your kind donation:

• $50.00 will cover my medicine, vitamins and food for a week, $200 will cover those expenses for one month.
• $50.00 each month will cover the cost of transportation for my mom to take me to see a cardiologist in Phnom Penh, who will determine when I am strong enough for surgery.
• $2600 will buy plane tickets so my mom can bring me to the U.S. for surgery.
• $500 will cover my expenses while I am recuperating after surgery in the U.S.

I REFUSE TO DIE!

Donations can be sent in her name to:

Hearts Without Boundaries
744 Redondo Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90804
Tel (818) 640-6191
Fax (562) 439-2550
Web www.heartswithoutboundaries.org

Pov Panhapich needs your help

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Translated from text in Khmer above

Call for donation to help Pov Panhapich

“Angkor Borei” news and the Cambodian Development Foundation, along with Ms. Ung Thary

We are calling for your generosity to provide donations to help Ms. Pov Panhapich who is currently undergoing medical care at a hospital in Vietnam, following an assassination attempt on her on 23 February 2007.

Currently, her health condition has improved but she needs to remain at the hospital for a long time to come still. Because her daily hospital expenses far exceed her ability to pay, as well as that of her family, she can only count on your generosity to help provide for her.

Please address your check or money order donation to:

Cambodian Development Foundation

and mail it to:

Angkor Borei News
2034 E. Lincoln Ave., Suite 214
Anaheim, CA 92806
USA

Angkor Borei news will list the names of the generous donors in its publication.