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Rail project families at risk: NGO

A girl cycles past shacks at a Dangkor relocation site. A girl cycles past shacks at a Dangkor relocation site. (Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post) (Pha Lina / Phnom Penh Post)

Monday, 13 February 2012 Monday, 13 February 2012
Mary Kozlovski and Khouth Sophak Chakrya Mary Kozlovski and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
The Phnom Penh Post The Phnom Penh Post

An NGO has criticised a controversial railway rehabilitation project – funded primarily by the Asian Development Bank and AusAID – in a report that states the US$143 million project has left families at risk of impoverishment by failing to adequately compensate and resettle them. An NGO has criticised a controversial railway rehabilitation project - funded primarily by the Asian Development Bank and AusAID - in a report that states the US $ 143 million project has left families at risk of impoverishment by failing to adequately compensate and resettle them.

In the report obtained by the Post, Bridges Across Borders Cambodia says a perception among many families interviewed that they had been, or would be, worse off because of the project was “unsurprising”. In the report obtained by the Post, Bridges Across Borders Cambodia says a perception among many families interviewed that they had been, or would be, worse off because of the project was "unsurprising".

“ The lack of meaningful consultation, including the provision of genuine choices from the beginning, has meant the resettlement process has been fraught with problems for many households ,” the report says. "The lack of meaningful consultation, including the provision of genuine choices from the beginning, has meant the resettlement process has been fraught with problems for many households," the report says.

More than 4,000 families living alongside the railway could be affec-ted by the project, and at least 1,200 families will have to relocate. More than 4,000 families living alongside the railway could be affec-ted by the project, and at least 1,200 families will have to relocate.

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