Cambodia is a unique place that I have wanted to visit for quite some time. I have finally made it and I am captivated by the rich culture. The quality of life is not great and the prevalence of poverty is evident. 35% of the people in Cambodia live under the poverty line of $.45 a day.(1) $.45 is nothing compared to what we live on a day. This easily explains why I have seen so many slums and the ridiculous amounts of people in these slums. Phnom Penh, which is the capital city of Cambodia, has 564 slum areas. These slum housing areas contain ¼ of the entire cities population, which is about 300,000 people.(2) The amount of people living in these slums is crazy. Due to the low quality of life and lack of resources, the average life expectancy for a man is 58 for a woman it is 62.(1)
A majority of the people in Cambodia rely on farming as their main source of income. Cambodia is a country located in the tropics and it has a lot of thick forests. As I travel I have seen a lot of rice fields. Due to the tropic climate it makes it ideal for growing rice and rice is a major export of Cambodia. Other major exports are fish, timber, and garments.(4) I have thoroughly enjoyed trying the cuisine here and the main staple foods I have been consuming for every meal are rice and noodles. I have also enjoyed buying fresh fruits such as bananas, pineapples, and mangos every morning from the street vendors.(4)
The malnutrition, especially in young children is very evident. Some children have larger heads compared to the rest of their bodies and they look like they might break if you hug them too tight. 36% of the children under 5 in Cambodia are moderately or severely underweight.(5) I have been approached by many children on the streets who were asking for food, which is hard because I want to be able to help all of them.
A majority of the people in Cambodia rely on farming as their main source of income. Cambodia is a country located in the tropics and it has a lot of thick forests. As I travel I have seen a lot of rice fields. Due to the tropic climate it makes it ideal for growing rice and rice is a major export of Cambodia. Other major exports are fish, timber, and garments.(4) I have thoroughly enjoyed trying the cuisine here and the main staple foods I have been consuming for every meal are rice and noodles. I have also enjoyed buying fresh fruits such as bananas, pineapples, and mangos every morning from the street vendors.(4)
The malnutrition, especially in young children is very evident. Some children have larger heads compared to the rest of their bodies and they look like they might break if you hug them too tight. 36% of the children under 5 in Cambodia are moderately or severely underweight.(5) I have been approached by many children on the streets who were asking for food, which is hard because I want to be able to help all of them.
1.) Cambodian Communities out of Crisis. UNDP Human Development Report 2009. http://www.cambcomm.org.uk/ff.html
2.) Cambodian Communities out of Crisis. Survey by the Urban Poor Development Fund and the Solidarity and Urban Poor Federation, December 2002. http://www.cambcomm.org.uk/ff.html
4.) World Food Programme. (2010). Cambodia. http://www.wfp.org/countries/cambodia
5.) Cambodian Communities out of Crisis. Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2005- Phnom Penh, National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning, 2006. http://www.cambcomm.org.uk/ff.html
2.) Cambodian Communities out of Crisis. Survey by the Urban Poor Development Fund and the Solidarity and Urban Poor Federation, December 2002. http://www.cambcomm.org.uk/ff.html
4.) World Food Programme. (2010). Cambodia. http://www.wfp.org/countries/cambodia
5.) Cambodian Communities out of Crisis. Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2005- Phnom Penh, National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning, 2006. http://www.cambcomm.org.uk/ff.html
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