Cambodia CHRISTIAN-CATHOLICS- LIVING ON THE WATER

Posted: 3rd August 2006

The Village living on the water

Pursat (C.S.C) -- In the commune of Kompong Lourng, of Kroukor Districto of the Province of Pursat, 150 km. at the north of Phnom Penh, at least, 5,000 families are living on the water, in flotating villages. Among them there are aproximately 200 of Christian-Catholic families. The life on those floating villages is very difficult because of the lack of many things such as fresh water, although they live on the water. Mrs. Ly Nam, 53, Vietnamese origin, is a member of Lourng Community Commission of the Catholic Church and has a small business of ice cream. She said to The Messenger's reporters that ?myself and other Christians as well, who live on this river, have to face many difficulties everyday, because when the water goes up, we cannot go fishing". She continued in Khmer language, with her Vietnamese accent: ?Of course, even though, we are living on this river, we do not have enough fresh water for us to drink and to use for cooking. We are obliged to use the awful and dirty water around our houses. We normally use a white alum to stir water for drinking?. Father Tonlop Sophal, his eyes gazing and staring on the awful water, made this comment: ?Once, in a dry season, I came here and saw the dirty water sourrounding the houses. I saw the people breaking ice and putting it into the glasses with that same dirty water taken from around their houses, for them to drink, without thinking in the bad consequences for their health".

Article Source: Catholic Social Communications, Cambodia