Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen speaks during the launch ceremony of a cash relief program in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 24, 2020. Cambodia on Wednesday launched a cash relief program for 562,686 poor and vulnerable families of nearly 2.3 million people during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Li Lay/Xinhua)
PHNOM PENH, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Wednesday launched a cash relief program for 562,686 poor and vulnerable families of nearly 2.3 million people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the launching ceremony here, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said through the program, the government will spend around 25 million U.S. dollars per month to support them, starting from this month.
"This program is to facilitate the living conditions of the poor and vulnerable people suffering from the impact of COVID-19," he said. "It's a social assistance during the crisis, not a permanent program."
The government will provide monthly cash payment through the program, which is expected to last for five months, he added.
Hun Sen said cash amount for the poor and vulnerable households is not the same, given the fact that the prices of food are different between urban and rural areas.
Economy and Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth said that under the program, poor and vulnerable families in capital Phnom Penh and provincial towns classified as Levels 1 and 2 will receive a cash handout of 30 U.S. dollars per month.
A Level 1 poor family member in the capital will be further assisted with 13 dollars a month, while each Level 2 poor family member will get 9 dollars, he said.
Level 1 poor family members in provincial towns will receive 10 dollars in assistance a month and those under Level 2 will get 7 dollars.
He added that poor and vulnerable families in the rural areas will receive 20 dollars per month, with each family member in Level 1 further receiving 6 dollars and in Level 2 further getting 4 dollars.
Cambodia has so far recorded a total of 130 confirmed COVID-19 cases, mostly imported, and no death has been reported, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday, adding only two patients remain hospitalized. Enditem
