THE Ministry of Rural Development announced on Tuesday that it would launch the Clean Water and Sanitation Project in 13 provinces at the end of this year.

"We will carry out the project by providing wells and toilets to people in the countryside of the 13 provinces during this coming dry season," said Sao Chivorn, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Rural Development.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provided US$18 million in funding for the two-year project, Sao Chivorn said.

In 2006, Cambodia used an $18 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to launch a similar project in Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang and Siem Reap, the five provinces in the Tonle Sap basin.

"We carry out these two programs so that 50 percent of people in the countryside will have access to clean water and 30 percent will have access to toilets by 2015," he said.

Only 42 percent of Cambodia's rural population has access to clean water, and only 19 percent access to toilet, according to ministry reports.