Cambodia
Cambodia is a country of extremes. Its natural beauty and world famous temples have led to a boom in tourism, but scratch below the surface and you find entrenched poverty.
Almost one in three of Cambodia’s 14 million population lives on less than US$0.45 a day, making it one of the poorest countries in Asia. Spiraling inflation has meant a sharp rise in food prices, and many poor communities have been forced from their land by property investors, leaving them with no way to grow food or make a living. The legacy of the brutal Khmer Regime in the 1970s is still evident as services such as healthcare and education continue to suffer and the country is largely reliant on overseas aid.
Cambodia is rich in natural resources such as oil, gas and timber. Exploitation of these is devastating the environment, and widening the gap between the rich and the poor.
CAFOD has been working in Cambodia since 1980 and continues to support poor and vulnerable communities through:
- Helping people living with HIV and AIDS to access medicine and earn a better income, and educating people about the virus and working to eradicate discrimination.
- Supporting communities, especially indigenous people, to access land titles, protect their forests and to increase food supply and income through organic farming.
- Good governance – Supporting communities, especially women, to influence and become involved in, local government.
 | 50 years of CAFOD: What lit your flame? As we begin to mark our 50th anniversary year at CAFOD, our director, Chris Bain, shares how some of CAFOD's staff became inspired tojoin the fight against poverty and injustice. |
 | Asia floods: how we are helping Heavy monsoon rains have devastated the lives of millions of people across South and East Asia |
 | Take action now: Open up the books! On 20 February new laws are on the table to ensure companies open up their books - please help close the legal loopholes so that poor communities can benefit from the wealth beneath their feet. Please take action today. |
 | International Women's Day: Cambodia "My mum doesn’t want me to drop out of school - she wants me to have a better life." |
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