DROUGHT ASSESSMENT REPORT
Malai & O’Chrov Districts
Banteay Meanchey Province
October 09-10, 2014
OBJECTIVE OF ASSESSM ENT




To understand the scope and severity of the drought in Malai & O’Chrov district of Banteay Meanchey
province.
To be able to comprehend the impact on local communities and likely longer term impact.
To understand the current needs of people in the affected areas by sector: food security, WASH, shelter,
education and child protection.
To know who is providing what support to which communities on the ground; determine if there are any
gaps in assistance and how those could be met.
METHODOLOGY
The assessment team used the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Key Informant Interview (KII) tools as well as
field observations to collect data at district and provincial level. The team conducted FGD with five groups of
women and five groups of men in five villages. Two villages in Malai and three villages in O’Chrov. In addition,
KII was used to interview key stakeholders such as village leaders, commune councils, CCDM and DCDM to
assess the scope of flood impact, existing supports of other key stakeholders and the likelihood of the longer
term impact. The FGD and KII tools are a simplification of the standard HRF rapid assessment tools.
District
Commune
O’chrov Kob
Malai
Village
Veang Muong
Method and sample size
FGD

Samraong
Kampong Reab 
Soengh
Soengh Lech
To Kong
Chaeng Maeng 
Toul Pongro Khla Ngoab


Sample
1 Women group
1 Men group
1 Women group
1 Men group
1 Women group
1 Men group
1 Women group
1 Men group
1 Women group
1 Men group
#
13
11
15
12
13
13
12
10
6
6
Method and sample
size
KII
Sample

1 CC

1 CC

1CC

1 CC

1 CC
DROUGHT ASSESSMENT REPORT
Malai & O’Chrov Districts
Banteay Meanchey Province
October 09-10, 2014
SITUATION OVERVIEW
The majority of the Malai and O’Chrov districts rely on a single rice crop per year as the basis of the household
and community income. The average household supplements this income through the raising of livestock,
growth of vegetables and migration to Thailand to seek short term work. There is no access to a permanent
water source significant enough to allow wide scale irrigation of crops or watering of livestock.
Significantly lower than average rainfall in the Malai and O’Chrov districts in 2014 has led to the failure of this
year’s rice crop. The usually reliable monsoon rains mean that farmers plant rice on the first rain of the season
knowing that follow up rains will provide the water needed for growth and harvest. This year however vast
tracts of rice land are still covered with grass as they have not been planted at all while others have been
planted (up to 4 times) only to see the rice die for lack of follow up rain. All 5 commune leaders surveyed
identified a decline in the overall situation since April this year.
In addition to causing the failure of the years rice crop the lack of monsoon rain has started to have significant
follow on effects –
1. Lack of basic food supplies
2. Lack of water for stock
3. Lack of water for small crops growing
4. Lack of rice thatch for mushroom growing
5. Significant increase in migration rates
There has been no response by either government or NGO to date.
DROUGHT ASSESSMENT REPORT
Malai & O’Chrov Districts
Banteay Meanchey Province
October 09-10, 2014
FINDINGS
The impact of the drought to date.
Survey Area
Province
BMC
BMC
BMC
BMC
BMC
Villages
District
O’Chrov
O’Chrov
O’Chrov
Malai
Malai
Total
45
Impact of drought
Total Number of Families
Total Population
Affected Families
Affected Population
Number Already Migrated
Affected
32
Samraong
1783
7883
1783
7883
450
Kob
922
9673
922
9673
5800
Commune
Samraong
Kob
Soeng
Toul Pongro
Takong
% Affected
71%
Soeng
1628
6405
1628
6405
942
Toul Pongro
3600
12677
3600
12677
1195
Impact as percentage of population
Families Affected by Drought
Population Affected by Drought
Population already migrated in response to drought
General Impact
 Rice crops are severely reduced or failed
 Household vegetable crops are severely reduced or failed
 Animals are suffering from increased incidence of sickness
 No assistance has been distributed to date
Takong
1769
10019
1769
8619
3000
Totals
9,702
46,657
9,702
42,257
11,387
Total
100%
97%
24%
DROUGHT ASSESSMENT REPORT
Malai & O’Chrov Districts
Banteay Meanchey Province
October 09-10, 2014
Water Supply, Hygiene & Sanitation




There is drinking water available now however it is unlikely to last the season
There is a need for water filtration currently
There will be a water shortage as the season continues
Currently people can access water within a 10 to 60 min time period / within 500 to 1000 m’s
Water Sources Affected
141
Main Source Drinking Water
Unprotected Wells
Priority Needs Summary
Unprotected Wells
Protected Wells


Water Filters
Well Construction
120
21


Well Restoration
Water Supply Systems
Food Security
 The affected areas have lost both their source of income and their annual food supply
 All population groups are effected by the food shortage
 Market prices are increasing already
 Food shortages are starting to develop
 Individuals are eating less now than before the drought
 Some families have already exhausted their food stocks
 Many families are feeding themselves from wild catch (insects, frogs, etc)
 Families are borrowing – going into food / cash debt
% of families facing food
shortage
16 % to 70%
Family Food Stocks
3 days to 30 days
Agriculture & Livelihood
 Prior to the drought the main sources of income were – (in decreasing importance)
- Rice growing
- Other Wage Labour
- Agricultural Wage Labor / Migration
 The lack of water has caused severe restriction or failure to all agricultural pursuits
 The failure of the rice crop has also reduced the day labour available locally
Crop Type
Rice
Secondary Crop
Crop Area
36 133 h
4 500 h
Area Affected
23 486 h
3 500 h
% Affected
65%
75%
Area Damaged
18 111 h
1 000 h
% Damaged
50%
22%
DROUGHT ASSESSMENT REPORT
Malai & O’Chrov Districts
Banteay Meanchey Province
October 09-10, 2014
Nutrition
 There has been some negative impact on the nutrition of children under 2 years old
(Malai in particular)
 Some mothers have reduced their breast feeding rates (Malai)
 General nutrition and feeding rates for children under 5 years old are insufficient
 Pregnant women do not have sufficient food (Malai)
 There are no active nutrition interventions in the target area
Pregnant / Lactating Women
Priority Needs Summary
525

Nutrition

Clean Water
Health
 Some areas are experiencing gastro outbreaks of up to 30% of the population (Malai)
 Health Centers are functioning as normal (note – this does not imply services are of the desired
standard)
 There is no restriction to access to health centers
 Most people can access health centers within a 30 min walk or ride
 Racha / CHO / WV are giving some assistance in the Malai area
Education
 Commune leaders in general were unable to supply information on student numbers
 There was concern for the number of teachers that would migrate and the subsequent closure of
schools as the season progresses
 There was also strong concern for the number of children who have and will migrate with their parents
and discontinue education as result
Protection
 Among the community protection concerns are as normal (violence / rape / theft / scams) however no
commune leaders identified any significant protection concerns
 Many teachers have migrated resulting in the closure of some schools which is creating protection
issues for the children attending schools without adequate supervision
 Village focus groups requested more information on the rule and laws surrounding trafficking
DROUGHT ASSESSMENT REPORT
Malai & O’Chrov Districts
Banteay Meanchey Province
October 09-10, 2014
CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATIONS
Immediate
1. Water Supply, Hygiene and Sanitation.
Issue
There is a shortage of clean drinking water that will
most likely become worse as the season continues.
Some areas have damaged irrigation systems that if
repaired they would significantly relieve the impact of
this year’s drought and reduce the need for drought
aid.
Recommendation
1. Further investigation to determine if more BSF
filters can be sourced and deployed.
2. Source possible training on water saving
Investigate assistance options villages that will run dry
in the season –
1. Water Transport
2. Deep Wells
Investigate options available to repair irrigation
systems.
NOTE – this would need to be complete before 31 Oct
to be of any benefit
(See separate irrigation report)
2. Food Security.
Issue
Food shortages are already taking affect. In short time
extreme food shortages will force decision making and
affect well-being and community.
3. Agriculture & Livelihood
Issue
Crop failure is a reality in many areas and imminent in
others.
(See separate irrigation report)
Though rice crops have failed there has been sufficient
rain to sustain grass which will most likely sustain
livestock.
Crop failure and decreased household income will
decrease villager’s ability to feed their existing bird
flocks. Hunger will also add to the threat to this
Recommendation
1. Initiate a food distribution program
investigation and food distribution activity by
weeks end.
2. Send out a call for ideas for small scale
household cropping that has a low water
demand.
Recommendation
Restore(even partially) any irrigation facilities that will
avoid wholesale failure of existing rice crops.
NOTE – this would need to be complete before 31 Oct
to be of any benefit
Monitor the livestock feed situation.
Investigate options for chicken / duck feed assistance.
DROUGHT ASSESSMENT REPORT
Malai & O’Chrov Districts
Banteay Meanchey Province
October 09-10, 2014
livelihood option.
Next years seed is being eaten and will not be available
for replanting
4. Nutrition
Issue
Nutrition for pregnant / lactating women and children
is already below ideal standards and will drop as
income and food availability drops.
5. Health
Issue
Health services required strengthening before the
drought and nothing has changed.
Predicting the impact of the drought on health services
is difficult as though disease may increase due to poor
nutrition demand may decrease due to migration.
6. Education
Issue
Information gained from the KII with the Commune
Leaders was not sufficient to make any judgements
7. Protection
Issue
Child protection issues may arise as more teachers
migrate and schools are left unsupervised and/or
closed.
Migrant Safety is a concern as few people will have
had the time to prepare the appropriate documents.
4. Nutrition
Issue
Nutrition for pregnant / lactating women and children
is already below ideal standards and will drop as
income and food availability drops.
The KII ranked the priority needs as 1. Food
2. Drinking Water
3. Sanitation
Plan and prepare for a seed aid program for next
planting season.
Recommendation
Initiate a food distribution program investigation and
food distribution activity by weeks end.
Recommendation
Monitor the situation.
Recommendation
Recommendation
Community Awareness Campaign
Community Awareness Campaign
Recommendation
Initiate a food distribution program investigation and
food distribution activity by weeks end.
DROUGHT ASSESSMENT REPORT
Malai & O’Chrov Districts
Banteay Meanchey Province
October 09-10, 2014
4. Non-food items
5. Shelter
The KII ranked the long-term needs as –
1. Water Source Rehabilitation
2. Irrigation Rehabilitation
3. Medicine
4. Education
5. Sanitation
6. Shelter
Long-Term



There is no doubt that this is an issue that could have been significantly diminished if the existing
irrigation and water storage systems were functioning.
Rice Banks / Savings Groups and other community structures would also offset some of the impact of
drought.
Deep Wells that are drought proof would supply a fallback position for drinking water