Flood Risk Management in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Cambodia is exposed to nearly all types of hydro-meteorological hazards from floods to droughts, heavy storms, typhoons, and lightning strikes. Since 1970, the country has experienced an economic loss of US $170 million per year due to disasters, and in 2011 alone, disasters caused a 4.3% loss to the country’s GDP. The author studies the Phnom Penh floodplain and Mekong Delta and explores the features and importance of floodplain resilience in terms of conveying and attenuating flood flows. The author also undertakes a flood risk assessment and identifies critical elements of flood risk management that are contextualized to local conditions. After a systematic assessment of the national and sub-national enabling environment, the case study author recommends reform of Disaster Risk Management and calls on the government to provide greater funding focusing on communities that are most vulnerable to climate-related disasters.