Borei Keila families have slept under staircases near piles of rubbish since they were forced from their homes on January 3, but they are hopeful of compensation following an unexpected visit from city officials last week.

Representative Chum Ngan, 39, said village, commune and Phnom Penh City Hall officials visited a small number of families on Thursday to examine their squalid living conditions.

“My family was interviewed and photographed on their bed and asked if we had any legal documents,” she said.

Ngan said the 117 evicted families had not been told why authorities visited, but hoped it indicated development firm Phan Imex was preparing to complete the final two residential buildings it agreed to construct in 2003.

Keov Sakol, Veal Vong commune chief, and City Hall spokesman Long Dimanche said many families still had to be interviewed.

“So we can’t speak in detail about it,” he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Chhay Channyda at [email protected]