The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pledged 1.51 billion yen (US$19.6 million) to repair infrastructure affected by last fall’s flooding, officials said yesterday.

At the signing, JICA promised to renovate eight bridges along National Road 11 and to improve roads and drainage facilities in Kampong Chhnang city affected by the overflow of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers last year.

“The bridges to be constructed under this project are to replace the existing dilapidated temporary bridges, which have inadequate flood discharge capacity,” said Suzuki Yasujiro, chief representative for JICA’s Cambodia office.

The project will also repair roads in Kampong Chhnang city that have been temporarily restored but are in need of permanent pavement and improvement of their drainage capabilities, Suzuki said.

The new aid project will supplement JICA’s provision of emergency supplies during the floods last August through October, which killed more than 200 people and affected 18 provinces in the worst flooding since 2000.

To contact the reporter on this story: Justine Drennan at [email protected]