We have a clear chain of events in terms of our response at Flame, and what has been going on in our communities, and what we are planning for.

January 27

The first organisational warning about COVID19 went out on 27th Jan and that was followed up regularly and talked about in our staff meetings as the virus progressed in Wuhan. The thing is, although at that time, there were officially ZERO cases in Cambodia, we are fully aware of the amount of movement between China, even specifically Wuhan and Phnom Penh.

Nicola had been at the airport on numerous occasions waiting for people to come and have seen the numbers which did not decrease until airports around the world were closing from about mid March. There is a open doors policy to China as Cambodia wishes remain faithful to China. In January there were 4 foreign nationals we know of who had COVID19 symptoms and they went to a clinic that didn’t have the capacity to test. The local Hospital didn’t test them either.

February

Washing hands and hand sanitiser is implemented in all our centres. Education team staff stay on the lookout for any children with symptoms. Casework staff on the lookout for any family members with symptoms. None noted.

March 10

Temperature checks happening daily at in all centres. Reminders are sent out for staff to send home any children who were unwell.

March 13

1000kg of rice and multiple other basic necessities given to 20 families, identified as at risk by the casework team.

March 16

An student event, involving all our centres, that was planned with the Cambodian National Football team is CANCELLED.

All Flame After-School Centres and Flame activities halted. Education staff called to work on curriculum from the main office.

Provisions are made for Leadership Academy students to return home and those without options to move into Sue’s house.

March 18

New Zealand government called expats back home. Sue left on the 20th March and Nicola, with her kids, finally make it out on the 24th March, after many flight cancellations.

March 19

No police on the streets of Phnom Penh (this is not official, but Nicola was about the city and really noticed it)

Flame staff continuing to work but in the main office…but then it was decided that Education Team staff should head back home and hunker down. The national Khmer New Year holidays were announced to begin early and all schools were closed and citizens encouraged to head “home” and await further notice. At that time the government said that schools would be opened again on 20th April.

March 28

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cambodia makes the announcement that boarders are closed to foreigners unless they had certification of having tested negative for COVID19, and a deposit of US$50,000.

March 30

Official news released from the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh that the vaccine for COVID19 had been released.

April

Skeleton staff continue to work at the main office. We are continuing to pay our staff salaries.

April 3

Food packages were given out to 20 families identified as at risk.

April 6

One of our clients had a motorbike accident a few weeks back and has not been seen by a doctor. She has 3 broken bones in her wrist and Flame did a home visit and gave the family some money to pay for the girl to get medical care.

April

We were able to build this new house for the displaced family who were living in a makeshift tent after their landlord evicted them (see the photo at the top).

It doesn’t look like much from western standards but it’s a roof over their head that is safe from flooding. The family are grateful to have somewhere safe to sleep.

April 14

The casework team are planing to deliver another round of food packages to at risk families. We would like to help ALL the families we have a relationship with, but currently this is not possible without more funding, so we continue to help the most vulnerable.