The poor and vulnerable families can now breathe a sigh of relief after the government announced that the COVID-19 pandemic cash support will be continued for another three months.
In his televised speech on Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen said the government has so far spent $160 million from June to November to provide relief for poor people affected by COVID-19.
He added the third round of the programme to provide cash assistance to poor families, called IDPoor, will end on December 31.
If the pandemic situation does not improve, the Premier said he may further extend it from January until March.
“If the situation is still the same, then the programme will continue,” he added.
Mr Hun Sen said that the government has allocated about $200 million to provide assistance to poor families and if this amount is not enough, the government also has the additional budget to draw upon.
“If someone criticises the government for not helping poor people during COVID-19, please ask the poor people [if this is true]. The government does not ignore them. The government does not let someone starve without rice to eat,” he said.
He said that even amidst the nationwide effects of the pandemic, the government still has enough revenue.
Chan Sam Na, 67, said that she is happy with the government’s announcement to continue the IDPoor.
“We were afraid that the government wouldn’t continue it and the programme was set to finish at end of this month, but now it will be continued,” she added.
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