[1]A tourist elephant dies from heat stroke in Angkor. Photo from an online petition calling for an end to elephant riding. Source: change.org
The El Niño weather phenomenon is partly responsible for plaguing Cambodia with rising temperatures and water shortages. The extreme drought is reported to be the worst [2] in the past 50 years.
According to the government, 2.5 million Cambodians in 100 districts have been affected [3] by the drought, and water shortages have been declared in 18 of the country’s 25 provinces. Meanwhile, nine provinces are experiencing heat waves.
Low water supplies have exacerbated poverty in many rural areas, where farmers depend on rivers and ponds for irrigation. Food security and local populations’ health are also growing concerns.
A look at drought's devastating toll on #Cambodia [4] https://t.co/hTbLWt2AXQ [5] pic.twitter.com/cp5jNmnBIs [6]
— The Phnom Penh Post (@phnompenhpost) May 1, 2016 [7]
Fishermen collect fish at a dried up pond at the #drought [8]-hit Kandal province, #Cambodia [4] pic.twitter.com/FYWfyUFlfx [9]
— Hans Solo (@thandojo) April 27, 2016 [10]
This YouTube video shows a completely dry [11] Sisophon River in Banteay Meanchey.
Another video shows how some families in rural areas collect [12] water in an almost dry watering hole in Banteay Meanchey province:
Animals are dying because of the water shortage and heat stroke. About 65 tons of fish in Tonle Chhmar lake died last month because of decreasing water levels:
Water Shortage & Heat killed many tonnes of fish in #KampongThom [13] #Cambodia [4] #DroughtKH [14] https://t.co/uXtNLv4JNx [15] pic.twitter.com/K24UqCPFzt [16]
— OU RITTHY (@ritthyou) April 27, 2016 [17]
Drought & water shortage have killed 300 cattle in Siem Pang district #StungTreng [18] province https://t.co/aU7R5Of2MI [19] pic.twitter.com/cbNuKRR7Gr [20]
— OU RITTHY (@ritthyou) April 27, 2016 [21]
Officials blame heat wave for deaths of hundreds of bats in Siem Reap https://t.co/buWAyoqaIA [22] #Cambodia [4] pic.twitter.com/48S7TYimlr [23]
— The Phnom Penh Post (@phnompenhpost) April 23, 2016 [24]
From community: over 30 black monkey died today becuz no water in Battambang, #Cambodia [4] @WildlifeRescue [25] @natgeowild [26] pic.twitter.com/ktR2JYOupT [27]
— Moses (@mosesngeth) April 28, 2016 [28]
A tourist elephant [1] in Angkor succumbed to heat stroke. Because of this incident, some Internet users launched a petition urging the authorities to end elephant rides, which are still popular among tourists.
The Cambodian government is asking for cooperation and unity [29] in the nation's response to the drought crisis. Officials vow to provide immediate aid to residents experiencing water shortages.