The Backroound of Relocated Families at Tuol Sambo

Friday, November 20, 2009

The United Nations attempted to prevent the eviction of HIV affected families at Borei Keila and registered its objection to the relocation of Borei Keila families by the Phnom Penh Municipality, and to the Royal Government of Cambodia at the highest level. The accommodation at Tuol Sambo, in the form of warehouse-style galvanized iron sheds, does not meet basic minimum standards for housing and stands in stark contrast to the adjacent brick buildings provided by an NGO to families who lost their homes in a riverbank slide.

Article 31 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia recognizes the right of every Cambodian citizen to an adequate standard of living including food, housing and medical care.  In the Cambodian Law on the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, the State prohibits discrimination against those persons suspected or known to be infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS in compliance with national Discrimination Acts and Policies, Article 36 to 42.

Caritas, the United Nations’ partner in its work with the Tuol Sambo community, is also contributing to long-term support to the community under its area development programme. The organizations have worked jointly to ensure the provision of additional land by the Municipality, including the removal of potential stigma and discrimination by enabling the integration of HIV affected households into the wider community. This can be done by random allocation of housing in the overall housing scheme, access to a fishpond and other income generation schemes for livelihood purposes, and a recreation area for children within the community. Access to health services, anti-retroviral therapy, and related home-based-care services is provided by KHANA’s implementing partners under the Royal Government’s National Continuum of Care Programme.