"Helping Helpless Widows and Children During this Devastating Drought"

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The Southeast Asian drought is moving into its third year with rivers and lakes at their lowest levels in years. The ground water table has dropped more then 70 feet in many areas. Many wells are dry and hundreds of thousands are without water.

The worst rice crop in years has already been eaten. The government continues to call for foreign aid to feed the hungry. The World Food Program is distributing rice but they are predicting 700,000 people in Cambodia will starve unless rains come early.

Partners In Progress is drilling wells, #15 pictured below, digging reservoirs to catch the rain when and if it comes, and providing food through our rice coop and newly formed Seed Rice Project.

Because of the drought farmers have been forced to eat the rice they would have used as seed. Normally they save seed from each year's harvest to plant, but this year there is none left over.

Widows asking for Seed Rice

Well #15 at Odon Village

The group of ladies and children in the picture, more then half of whom are widows, have appealed to us for seed rice. They asked to borrow seed rice and pay us back when they harvest (that's if they get enough rain to have a harvest). The returned rice will be stored for next year's emergency to help them feed their families and or plant a new crop.

$100 will provide enough seed rice for 10 families. There are an estimated 100 Christian families, many of whom have no male leader, that need seed rice.

$900 will drill a well that can provide water for a village of 75 to 200 people. Please help if you can because He Cares.

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