Children in Battambang province that have received God’s provision through AIM

Cambodia has had great trouble with rain and drought in different areas of the country. In some areas, drought is impacting the future rice harvest. In other provinces, floods have taken out the last crop and are delaying the planting for the next harvest.

In addition, there has been a devasting outbreak of Dengue Fever througout the country. This year has been one of the worst in recent history. Dengue Fever presents itself with a very high temperature, severe bone and muscle aches (it’s nickname is Bone Break Fever) and a red rash that appears first on the legs then travels up to the trunk of the body. Due to lack of medicine and the general poor health of the people because of malnutrition, many die, especially the children. The staff of the National Center for Control of Dengue has ran out of the year’s supply of Abate. This chemical is used to kill mosquito larvae in their largest breading ground, the large water vessels used to catch rain water. There are literally thousands of these vessels dotted throughout the country because there are no piped water systems in some parts of the cities and throughout the provinces. These vessels are the only source of water for drinking, cooking and bathing. Last year there were12,300 cases of Dengue. This year the NCCD estimates that there will be over 40,000 cases of the disease. So far this year at the Kampong Cham Hospital (200 km outside of the capital of Phnom Penh) there have been 47 deaths as compared to 9 last year and 4 in 2005.

So in the midst of this poverty, disease and hunger lies the gateway for little girls to be sold. A girl sold to a strange man to abuse as he likes for his own sick pleasure. A girl sold to be raped so her family can buy food, medicine or both.

AIM has been blessed through funds donated via IDES (International Disaster and Emergency Services) and you, our faithful supporters. These donations have enabled us to distribute rice, medicine and mosquito nets to help protect families against the ravages of poverty, malnutrition and disease. One of the largest provinces asking for help is Pursat. 1,007 families are requesting aid. Currently we are able to provide for 257 families. Country wide we are able to provide for one third of the 9,602 families requesting emergency help through the local AIM churches. We are confident in God’s provision, so please join us in praying that each family’s needs will be met. Just $13 will provide a family with a 20 kilo bag of rice (one month’s supply) and a mosquito net.

Our Vision
Jesus Christ, through His Church, will defeat the evil of child sexual slavery in Cambodia.