Environment ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra inspects the production of coffins in Kampot province. ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY
Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the purchase of more than 3,000 coffins from Thailand to be used nationwide as the country’s Covid-19 death toll continues to rise.
More than 1,000 coffins have already been donated to 12 provinces, according to Ministry of Interior secretary of state Kol Vireak.
“We have sent 100 coffins to each of the 12 provinces,” he said, adding that he expected delivery to be late as Thailand is also dealing with a severe outbreak of the disease.
Some provinces have produced coffins in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment from illegally logged timber seized in crackdowns on forestry crimes.
“We will donate coffins to the western provinces first as they are at higher risk for increased fatalities because they have many migrant workers returning to the country. We have to send enough coffins to those provinces and then we will think of others,” he said.
Vireak said he has been working with the environment ministry to choose appropriate timber for making the coffins, following Hun Sen’s July 1 order to use the seized timber for this purpose.
“At least we have enough coffins for cremation or burial. We are not at the point where we have to dispose of these bodies without coffins. We have to have coffins because we have to respect the souls of our citizens who have departed from this world due to this disease,” he said.
Environment ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra told The Post on July 15 that his ministry will use 1,347 cubic metres of timber seized during law enforcement actions against illegal loggers in 2020 and 2021 to make the coffins.
“According to our initial estimates, the timber currently in the hands of the ministry can make more than 1,200 coffins in this first phase,” he said.
As of July 15, the environment departments in 12 provinces had made 700 coffins and delivered them to the sub-commissions for the management of the bodies of deceased Covid-19 patients.
“This is the honourable thing to do for our fellow human beings and a demonstration of the government’s value to the people. Traditionally, Khmer have always shown respect when handling corpses and we must continue to do so for those who are on their final journey after unfortunately dying from Covid-19,” Pheaktra said.
As of July 15, Cambodia had recorded a total of 64,611 Covid-19 cases with 1,025 fatalities – including 39 deaths on July 15 alone.
Health ministry spokeswoman Or Vandine has once again urged vigilance and proactively implementing preventive measures to suppress the transmission of Covid-19.
She said it was the only way to avoid a public health tragedy and further damage to the economy even though more than five million people have now been vaccinated. She urged every individual and business to follow the measures.
“Some crowded places and closed spaces should not be operating. The people should be aware that when they go there, there is a high risk of transmission of the virus. And if it isn’t absolutely necessary, there should not be any travel to anywhere at all,” she said.
Vandine appealed to all business owners to carefully consider the greater good and either set up their businesses in a manner that respects the preventive measures or close down until it is safe to reopen.
“We have to be unified and act now and act quickly to prevent and curb transmission so we don’t step over the red line,” she said.
