... and it will get much worse, warn city officials, because the sewer system

cannot cope.

S OME parts of the city

were flooded by just one night's heavy rain this week, and the situation is

expected get worse with each downpour because of sewer, dike and dam

problems.

Chap Nhalyvoud, vice governor of Phnom Penh Municipality, said

the Municipility desperately lacked money to restore the old sewer

system.

"We have no budget to repair and clean the sewer system and water

pumping machines as frequently as is needed," he said.

He said if it

rained, Phnom Penh must flood because the problem hasn't been solved. However,

he said the municipality had managed to get some money from big business

companies for a sewer system project, but much more is still needed.

International funds are being sought.

Nhalyvoud said the big flooding

problems were made worse by people throwing rubbish into sewers. He appealled to

residents to be careful and responsible, and not to throw rubbish into sewers

which then cause blockages.

The rainy season normally begins late May at

the earliest, or June, and will last six to seven months. However, there may

well be flucuations in the length of the season and the intensity of the

rainfall due mainly to environmental factors. Experts say the loss of forest and

jungle cover is likely to alter typical weather patterns.