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Online Photo Exhibition on the situation of Urban Poor Communities in Phnom Penh

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The photo exhibition is an activity of Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT), which is funded by the European Union (EU). The main objective of this project is to shed light on the situation of the urban poor in Phnom Penh.
These photos were taken by community members and STT staff during implementation of project activities between 2016 to 2020.

These photos highlight challenges faced by urban poor communities in Phnom Penh such as lack of land ownership, forced evictions, inadequate housing, lack of infrastructure, health concerns and lack of proposed sanitation. In addition, the exhibition also showcases private development on some lakes in Phnom Penh which could affect communities.

STT thanks the EU, our NGO partners, the urban poor communities in Phnom Penh for their cooperation and participation in ensuring the smooth implementation of the project.

Please enjoy!

Thank you from STT staff!

Facts and Figures #28: PHNOM PENH’S LAKES: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

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Cambodia’s government has sanctioned the sale of Phnom Penh’s lakes and, as evidenced by the high profile case of Boeung Kak Lake, this has been linked with lake filling and loss of Phnom Penh’s water systems. This practice is understood – through news reports and anecdotal evidence from former residents of affected lakes – to be widespread, raising concerns about the impact on Phnom Penh’s natural drainage systems and flood risk. However until now there has been no comprehensive analysis of how urban development has impacted on Phnom Penh’s Lakes.
In 2015 STT’s Research Team undertook a study of the current status of 25 lakes in Phnom Penh. This study found that 15 have been filled in, representing a loss of 60% of Phnom Penh’s lake systems. A further eight lakes have been partially filled in, and another has become shallower as a result of waste water and garbage emptied into this area. Overall, this demonstrates that Phnom Penh’s urban development is having a significant impact on the water systems in this region.

Facts and Figures #28: PHNOM PENH’S LAKES:  WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

provides details information about the lakes in Phnom Penh.

You can find report in PDF here.

More information:
Mr. Ee Sarom, Executive Director of Sahmakum Teang Tnaut Organization
E-mail: sarom@teangtnaut.org
Tel : (+855) 12 836 533
Ms.Rebecca Linton (Eng), STT Program Advisor
E-mail: rebecca@teangtnaut.org
Tel : (+855) 16 655 146

Local Authority Destroys Residential Property without a Public Consultation

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19 January 2016

At about 8.30 am on the morning of 18 January 2016, an estimated 100 mixed up forces of Khan and Sangkat Russey Keo, equipped with hammers, knifes, axes and saws and deploying an excavator to destroy properties of residents living in O Baktouk village, Sangkat Boeung Salang, Khan Russey Keo, following Khan’s notification issued on 12 January 2016 that inform people living along the O Baktoul canal to remove voluntary some properties grow or build illegally along the edge of the canal.

According to the notification of Khan Russey Keo, this is only administrative measure to move such toilets, kitchen and chicken’s cottages of families which have lived on edge of Baktouk canal, which accused as illegal. The authority’s action was to 3 families which requested and very challenged to conduct a transparent development.

In the wake situation Khan Russey Keo governor Mr. Thun Sokhorn did a media conference on that issue, in order to clarify with media and public why authority come to take this action. He said in the conference that this project is in the master plan of MPP and we do this because of public interest; he added that authority firstly take only about 10 meters from the edge of the canal, but it is 20 meters according to regulation. Moreover, authority will conduct both sides of the canal where approximately 300 families could be effected by the project; nevertheless he affirmed that there will no compensation for those who could effect. It should be noted that the canal stretches about 4 km long starting point at street 273 (Tuol Sangke) till Borei Kong Bun Hov and so far they initially achieved about 1800 meters a side.

According to Mr. Sek Sokha, an effected resident telling us that next step is going to seek legal aid from Land NGO (i.g CLEC) over the case.

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Urban Poor Forum under the theme “The Urban Development by Contribution from Poor Communities”

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STT have been conducted Urban Poor Forum under the theme “The Urban Development by Contribution from Poor Communities”. This forum have been conducted for 2 days, which started from 22-23 December 2015 at Community Legal Education Center (CLEC) that have participant approximately 100 of community member, NGO partners and staffs. The Forum have been conducted in aim:

  • To provide poor communities that affected by land and housing rights in Phnom Penh to address the challenges and do action plan.
  • To strengthen the network and build solidarity among the poor communities that affected by land and housing rights.
  • To provide poor communities identify their problems and take action to address those issues.

The Presentation of Spatial Alternative Redevelopment Plan of Human Rights Based Spatial Planning (HRBSP) Project

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The people do want development very much, provided that the development could be accepted, according to informal group discussion organized by Samakum Teang Tnaut (STT)’s Human Rights Based Spatial Planning project that participated from about 160 citizens from four villages—village 1,2,3 and Khor in Sangkat Chrang Chamres 1 and Chrang Chamres 2 that we conducted in September and October ago.

For detail information, please visit here:

Thousands march on World Habitat Day, authorities accept petition

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5 October 2015

On World Habitat Day 2015, authorities accepted a petition from hundreds of protestors who marched to demand housing rights and an end to forced evictions in Cambodia.

On the morning of 5 October, community members, monks, children, tuk-tuk drivers and civil society organizations gathered at Dey Krahorm – a former eviction site – to march to the National Assembly. The crowd wore black tshirts and hats made from palm leaves, a traditional housing material in Cambodia. Representatives of more than 150 urban and rural communities and civil society organisations were invited to take part.

Outside the National Assembly, community members delivered speeches and monks offered a blessing asking for an end to forced eviction. Helium balloons were attached to model houses and released to highlight the importance of housing as a human right. Children displayed their own model ideal houses amidst banners and songs.

Police blockades prevented protestors from continuing their march to the ministry buildings. Instead, officials from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Land Management and Municipality of Phnom Penh came to the protestors and accepted the petitions in front of the National Assembly. Representatives of the National Assembly came out to accept the petition. Authorities from Chamcarmon district district also accepted a model house.

The march participants included many people personally affected by forced evictions. As one participant expressed, “I am here to demand housing rights. I was evicted and now don’t have a house, this right to has been denied for me.”

Others shared what the event meant to them.
“I am happy to be here to affirm our human right to housing”.
“I want to request of companies developing land: don’t abuse the rights of the people.”
“I want to ask the government: do not evict people and send them to a far away place.”

STT’s Executive Director, Mr Ee Sarom, spoke to media about the right to adequate housing and forced evictions in Cambodia. “People here are those who affected by land and housing right issues. They were forcibly evicted from their land and housing,” he said. “They have come here to show the government about their problems and seek a solution.”

The march commemorated the 30th anniversary of World Habitat Day, first designated in 1985. As one participant expressed: “I feel encouraged to be here, because today is an international day. It is not just about Cambodian communities abused by the Government, we celebrate with people all over the world.”

International Children’s Day Celebrated in an Urban Poor Community, Phnom Penh

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On June 1st 2015, STT and PIN co-celebrated International Children’s Day under the slogan “City for Children”. The event was held at “Vihea Thom” (the Large Mosque) at Kilometer 09, in Village 3, Sangkat Chrang Chamres Mouy, Khan Russey Keo, Phnom Penh from 8 am to 11 am. There were over 200 people including children, their parents, representatives of the Phnom Penh Municipality, as well as local authorities who participated in the event.

The International Children’s Day (or Kid’s day) event is one of the activities of the Human Rights Based Spatial Planning Project implemented by STT and PIN funded by the EU and CZDA in village 1, village 2, village 3 and village Khor in Sangkat Chrang Chamres 1, and 2.

The main purpose of the celebration was to engage relevant people including children, to discuss, think, and share ideas about issues facing their community and put those ideas into a development plan.

The event encouraged children to think about their urban living environment by giving them the opportunity to discuss and draw what their ideal city would look like. 10 groups of children with 10 people in each group were selected in order to participate in a drawing competition. Overall, children from each group had similar ideas about their dream city which comprised of adequate housing, roads, schools, hospitals, playgrounds, and green trees. Three groups out of the10 groups were awarded as first, second and third place. One child from the group awarded first place said “I want a beautiful city with a place to play sports, a school, and good roads”. In addition about 50 other children participated in freestyle drawing and painting activities such as drawing houses, trees, cars, and flowers. All of the children who participated were happy to join the events and went home with school materials such as books, pens, pencils, erasers, and rulers.