Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA) trained youth in Kbal Romeas on how to report the story from their villages by using their smartphone, June 2017.
Kbal Romeas is one of several due to be inundated by a reservoir that will be created by the Lower Sesan-II Dam. This dam is currently under construction on the Sesan river by the Chinese-Cambodian company Hydro Power Lower Sesan 2 (HPLS2). The site is approximately 1.5km upstream from Sesan’s confluence with the Srepok river and 25km away from where both rivers join the Mekong.
October 2008, the construction of the dam will destroy 30,000 hectares of forest along the Srepok and Sesan rivers, and significantly impact on wildlife habitat as well as 24% of the agricultural land in Sesan district.
Creating a flooded area of 335km2, it is feared the project will also have a severe impact on migratory fish stocks while requiring the (in)voluntary resettlement of 1,579 households to six resettlement areas.
In 2014, HPLS2 promised thosethat were to be relocated an 80m2 living plot for each family, 5 hectares of farmland, $6,000 plus provision of food for one year. However, some of the affected families chose to stay in their villages.
The pdf photo story is available here: STORYTELLER, Indigenous Pu Nong Youth: Kbal Romeas village affecting by dam
All photos: Seiha Tiep/Oxfam