Cambodia & Japan Strengthen Collaboration on Flood Risk Management at Sangke Dam

• Sommana Yan
• 5 June 2025
• Uncategorized
• 1304 Views

In a significant move to enhance flood risk management, Cambodia and Japan have pledged to work together on the operations and management of dams and watersheds along the Sangke River. This commitment follows productive discussions held on 2 June 2025, between officials from Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

HE Oeung Chantha, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Water Resources, emphasised that the meeting aimed to foster cooperation on dam operations and effective flood risk management in the Sangke Basin. Key outcomes from the talks included exploring additional collaborative efforts and sharing Japanese expertise in areas such as dam operations, flood forecasting, and the creation of flood risk maps with senior technical experts from the Cambodian ministry.

HE Oeung Chantha also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration with the Japanese project team to advance the water resources and meteorological sectors in Cambodia. This partnership aims to bolster the effectiveness of dam operations and water retention infrastructures along the Sangke River, ultimately leading to enhanced flood risk management strategies in the region.

Furthermore, Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is currently supporting a project to improve and rehabilitate the irrigation system and water discharge mechanisms southwest of Phnom Penh, with the project now 50% complete. (Read more) 

This partnership marks a vital step for both countries as they tackle critical challenges in water management while also aiming to strengthen community resilience in the face of flooding. The joint efforts signal a shared commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and mitigating the impacts of adverse weather conditions in the region.

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