Tith Kongnov and Kong Arey
Jan 10th 2021

Between 150 to 400 Cambodians are crossing the Chong Chom border in Thailand’s Surin province through O’Smach international border checkpoint daily.

SAMRAONG, Oddar Meanchey – The continuing deluge of Cambodian returnees from Thailand has compelled Oddar Meanchey and Battambang provinces to look for additional venues for quarantine and or building additional ones.

Dy Rado, deputy governor of Oddar Meanchey province told Khmer Times that December 21 last year, when the outbreak of COVID-19 in Thailand spiked, to January 8 this year, up to 15,000 Cambodians have crossed the border back into Cambodia and straight to the various quarantine centres.

“Many of our earlier 17 centres are at full capacity and as such, we have opened three additional facilities to cater to incoming returnees. We fear more numbers will cross the border closer toward Khmer New Year.

“We are also looking at the practicality of building new centres if the situation continues to worsen as the current 20 centres are also nearing full capacity. The government has provided a budget of $195,000 for the additional quarantine centres along with 4,000 essential kits comprising blankets, pillows, mats and other basic essentials.”

“We are prepared and equipped to receive between 400 and 500 returning Cambodians daily and the situation in Banteay Meanchey is well under control. We do not see the need for any additional quarantine centres.

“As for utilities, we are concerned about water supply as we draw water from rivers and during the dry season, the water levels could be very low, thus hampering adequate water supply. We do not foresee any issues with electricity supply at this point of time,” he said.

“The provincial authorities have allocated two hectares of land to construct a new quarantine centre, declining to mention the budget allocated by the government or where and when the new centre will be constructed and completed and made ready for use to accommodate the returning Cambodians.”

full.https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50812272/b ... returnees/