The government has started to build a health centre for villagers in Svay Rieng’s Korki commune, where old chemical bombs have been found, leaving many villagers suffering from skin and respiratory complaints.
Deputy district governor Sour Mol said on Monday morning local authorities and government officials celebrated a ground-breaking ceremony to construct the health centre.
Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered Health Minister Mam Bunheng to build the health centre there and announced that all villagers in the area where the bombs had been discovered would get free health care at public hospitals.
Mr Mol said Mr Bunheng also announced that another centre would be built at his commune in October because villagers there also suffered from chemical bombs.
He added that there were 153 villager found to be suffering from the effects of chemical bombs and sent to hospitals for treatment and most had symptoms of skin and respiratory complaints, while some babies had been born with abnormalities.
