The food situation continues to worsen here as a lack of rain has devastated the rice harvest. In a meeting we had yesterday with the Director of the World Food Program I learned that they are gearing up for a massive food relief program in the hardest hit areas of the country but he told me that they would only be able to help a small percentage of those who would be hungry before the next harvest.

Our planned Nutrition project now seems more critical then before. Dr. Shannon Deshazo, who is to arrive on April 3rd will spend the month working in villages where we have churches in an effort to evaluate the physical condition of children under twelve years of age whom the government says are 47% malnourished. Dr. Deshazo has been here on two previous medical missions and seen the poverty and health care needs first hand. Following her work we will begin feeding as many children as possible on a regular basis in a stop-gap-attempt to help.

Without proper nutrition in the early stages of life the brain as well as the rest of the body does not develop normally and the child is severely handicapped for as long as they live. We ask for your prayers for the starving in this impoverished country.

William E. "Bill" McDonough, Director
Partners In Progress
Phnom Penh, Cambodia