The government provided more than $350 million in cash assistance for poor and vulnerable people who bear the brunt of Covid-19 during the period of one year.

Chhour Sopanha, director of the social welfare department under the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation, said on June 26 that the government disbursed a total of $351.77 million through the Cash Transfer Programme, which was launched on June 25, 2020.

He said the financial assistance was provided to poor people in Phnom Penh and in the rural areas, based on the size of each household.

Seng Kimly, a 53-year-old resident of Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district who had received the government cash support, said the assistance had eased her family’s daily livelihood difficulties.

“I am so happy with this Covid-19 assistance. Before receiving it, my family face hardship. When this assistance came, it helped us a lot. We used it to spend on utilities and food,” she said.