AKP Phnom Penh, June 24, 2026 -- International relief organisation Samaritan's Purse has distributed over 11,500 fruit saplings to thousands of displaced families in Cambodia’s northwestern Banteay Meanchey province to bolster food security and local livelihoods.

A total of 11,520 saplings were handed over on Tuesday afternoon to 2,880 internally displaced families currently residing across seven villages in the Svay Chek district.

The distribution ceremony was presided over by Banteay Meanchey Deputy Governor Mr. Khlok Nuoy, representing Governor H.E. Oum Reatrey.

Expressing deep gratitude to Samaritan's Purse, Deputy Governor Khlok Nuoy praised the organisation's close cooperation with provincial authorities to alleviate poverty and improve living standards in vulnerable communities.

"This initiative not only helps boost household income through cultivation but also contributes significantly to restoring forest cover and enhancing green spaces in temporary settlement areas," he said.

The aid package consists of four varieties of fruit trees, evenly distributed to include 2,880 mango trees, 2,880 lime trees, 2,880 guava trees, and 2,880 longan trees.

The Deputy Governor urged beneficiaries to ensure the proper upkeep of the plants to achieve long-term sustainability.

"Receiving the saplings is not the final step, but the beginning," he emphasised. "I urge everyone to dedicate effort to watering, weeding, and protecting these trees so they can thrive and provide sustainable yields for your families in the future."

The initiative is part of a broader livelihood support framework aimed at fostering small-scale family farming and ensuring localised food security for displaced populations in the Svay Chek district.

By K. Rithy Reak