The impoverished residents of Andoung Bei community expressed high expectations for their standard of living after officials and NGO representatives announced the construction of a modern supermarket and drainage system yesterday.

Phy Nob, chief of Kouk Reka commune in Por Sen Chey district, said the construction of a two-storey supermarket and 10 drainage lines came courtesy of a $3 million donation from the non-profit organisation People for Care & Learning.

“We are strongly confident that the establishment of a two-floor supermarket will turn the poor Andoung Bei community into a busy area that can provide myriad professions and careers to improve the residential condition,” Phy Nob said.

Andoung Bei has experienced overcrowding problems since evictees from Chamkarmon district’s Tonle Bassac commune were moved there in 2006.

The issue of insufficient infrastructure came to a head when it was revealed 1,000 evicted families were living in the area, not 700 families as authorities initially reported.

People for Care & Learning has already poured the foundation for the supermarket and built more than 300 steel-roofed houses with plans to build more, promising residents access to sanitised water and electricity.

The organisation would also build a police office and an area for craftsmen to work, People for Care & Learning president in Cambodia Fred Garmon said.

Andoung Bei resident Chin Maly, 43, said the supermarket would draw people from surrounding villages.

“I’ve been waiting for this occasion since six years ago . . . I will open a small café or crockery store in my house because my house will be near the market site,” she said with a smile.