Flood in Cambodia

Cambodian authorities say at least 180,000 hectares of rice paddies have been destroyed by the Mekong River floods since early August. Minister of Agriculture Chan Sarun today said so far, 180,000 hectares out of the 2.4 million hectares of grown rice paddies this year have been destroyed by the floods. However, he said it will not affect the country's food security and rice export policy as the government will distribute rice seeds to affected farmers as soon as possible. Cambodia has been hard-hit by the flood since August 13, inundating 19 cities and provinces. A spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management said at least 207 people were killed in the floods. He said the floods have also affected some 1.2 million people and bout 600 houses were swept away . The spokesman said other 196,600 houses, 1,132 schools and 400 Buddhist pagodas are submerged in the floods.