Mitigating flood risk in Cambodian communities: Empowering communities to manage disaster risk

 Three hundred forty-seven persons were reported dead and more than 3.5 million people affected, many of whom had to evacuate from their flooded homes for more than a month. The 2000 flood in Cambodia inflicted damage amounting to USD145 million. The 2001 flood followed a similar pattern with even higher water levels in some communities (IFRC, 2001). To reduce flood vulnerability, a community-based approach to disaster management is empowering villages to implement flood mitigation and preparation strategies they themselves have formulated.