Phnom Penh (FN), Jan. 12 – On January 10th, 2023, H.E. Mr. Cherdkiat Atthakor, Ambassador of Thailand to Cambodia, led the official delegation from the Royal Thai Embassy to visit the construction of Transit and Reception Center for Victims of Trafficking and other Vulnerable Group in Poi Pet, Banteay Meanchey province. On this occasion, H.E. Mr. Nhek Vannara, Secretary of State of Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) and Mr. Ngor Mengchruon, Deputy Governor of Banteay Meanchey Province, also joined the site visit.

The Transit and Reception Center, funded by the Royal Thai Government, highlights a joint effort between Thailand and Cambodia to promote social development and human security of the peoples particularly in assisting victims of trafficking and other vulnerable groups under the Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments on Bilateral Cooperation for Eliminating Trafficking in Children and Women and Assisting Victims of Trafficking signed in Siem Reap in 2003.

Apart from providing shelter to targeted groups, the center incorporates training of the trainers programme on vocational skill development for personnel of the Center as well as the programme on organizational development including staff development and providing materials and equipment for vocational skill development and training to the Center. The construction is expected to complete later this year. When completed, the Center will be able to accommodate up to 100 victims of human trafficking and vulnerable groups and will provide 3 to 6 months of accommodation with vocational skill development trainings and rehabilitation programmes and activities before being repatriated to the social mainstream in order to enhance opportunity of their livelihood.

H.E. Mr. Cherdkiat stressed that “the key success of the establishment of this Center as the very first transit and reception center for victims of trafficking in Cambodia is not only about the completion of the construction, but it is also about the management by the Cambodian Government and parties involved in assisting, rehabilitating and training the victims to get out of trafficking cycles”.

The Thai Ambassador and the delegation also visited Poipet Referral Hospital, as part of the health cooperation project between Thailand and Cambodia. The relevant Thai agencies have consistently supported the hospital with the provisions of medical equipment and trainings with a view to strengthening the Cambodian health system especially along the border provinces. Recently, Thailand has supported the renovation of the emergency ward and facilities to enhance hospital capacity in admitting more patients and increase efficiency for pre-referral patients. The facility will be completed in March this year. Close cooperation on healthcare management system will improve quality of lives of the people along the borders of the two countries.

The Thai Ambassador “welcomed close ties between the two countries especially at the provincial level as it has clearly shown during the fire incident in Poipet. The disaster relief and cooperation between the local authorities in the two countries has helped to alleviate the situation”.

During his visit to Banteay Meanchey province, the Thai Ambassador also visited Thai prisoners in the Banteay Meanchey prison on January 11th, 2023, and handed them some necessities. With cooperation from the Royal Angkor International Hospital, a leading hospital group with extensive network throughout Southeast Asia. The team provided health check-ups for Thai prisoners in order to support the work of Cambodian authorities as part of the CSR project between the Royal Thai Embassy and Thai private sector in Cambodia.
=FRESH NEWS