Phorn Bopha

Traditional Cambodian Silk Ikat at Risk of Extinction

A hand-made pictorial Cambodian silk ikat that uses all-natural silk and dyes takes nearly a year to produce and can sell for thousands of dollars. But this traditional handicraft, which is being preserved by fewer than a dozen small nonprofits in the country, is at risk of disappearing.

In Cambodia, Cancer Patients Face Late Diagnosis, Few Treatment Options

“Before I was sick, I had so many dreams. I thought I would have a bright future,” said Oun Retra, in an interview with VOA reporters in November 2019.

US Aims to Boost Trade with Cambodia, Encourage, Strengthen Human Rights, Ambassador Murphy Says

U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy spoke with VOA Khmer reporter Bopha Phorn late last month at his residence in Phnom Penh. The 30-minute interview covered trade, U.S. investment in Cambodia, money-laundering, human rights, recent arrests of Cambodian civil society and labor advocates su

Cambodia’s Plan to Establish Internet Gateway Raises Concerns

Further, the document states that the purpose was to enhance “national revenue collection”, to “protect national security” and to assure “social order,” terms often used in other vaguely-defined legislation.

Secretive Creator of ‘Kitchen Story’ Delivers Delicious Recipes Online

Duong Thida told VOA Khmer that she intentionally keeps her identity secret so that her audience can focus on the videos and the food she cooks.

Battambang Resident Recollects the Lonely Experience of Recovering from COVID-19

The Cambodian Muslim man had returned from Malaysia with eight people in March, with half the group testing positive for the respiratory disease.

Central Bank Moves to Remove Small U.S. Dollar Bills out of Circulation

In a press release, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) said it would phase out the $1, $2, $5 bills, while pushing for the use of the Cambodian riel. The statement was released after a meeting with bank and MFI representatives.

Siem Reap’s Tourism-Reliant Residents are Struggling Financially

For the last two months, Cambodia’s most popular tourist destination, and home to the Angkor Archaeological Park, has felt the effects of the viral outbreak that has decimated the global travel industry.

With No Buyers, Phnom Penh’s Waste Pickers Are Helpless

These informal workers are one of the most vulnerable groups in the city, with little to no social protections, even though they provide the critical service of recycling the city’s garbage.

Families Fear Banks More Than Virus as Loans Loom Over Their Heads

This prompted 135 civil society organizations this week to urge the Cambodian government to ensure that microfinance institutions immediately suspend all loan repayments and interests for at least three months.

Monks Face Food Shortages Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

While the population struggles to sustain an income amidst the coronavirus pandemic and many Cambodians are worried about feeding their own families, monks in Cambodia are left behind as not enough donations come in.

Monks Face Food Shortages Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

While the population struggles to sustain an income amidst the coronavirus pandemic and many Cambodians are worried about feeding their own families, monks in Cambodia are left behind as not enough donations come in.

Cambodian Businesses Remain Open, Double Down Protections Against Coronavirus

As the number of coronavirus infection cases rises in Cambodia, businesses that cannot afford to close enact strict hygiene standards but remained worried about the future. From Phnom Penh, VOA’s Phorn Bopha and Khan Sokummono filed this report, narrated by Chetra Chap.

Spirits against Corona: A Local Rum Distillery Starts Producing Hand Sanitizer

Before the pandemic, the six-year-old company Samai Distillery​ was producing rum for the local and international markets.

Cambodian Businesses Embrace Protective Measures Against Coronavirus

While dozens of business owners have closed their shops in Phnom Penh as a way to limit the chances of infection, others cannot afford to do so.

Amnesty International Highlights Ongoing Oppression Of Gov’t Critics

Civil Society Advocates Decry End Of Human Rights Day Holiday

The holiday marks the day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly.

Many Face Cascades of Woe if Cambodia Loses Preferred EU Trade Status

The Garment Workers Association estimates that three million people would be impacted if Cambodia’s status changes, from the vendors outside factories who sell meals, to those in the microfinance sector who have loaned garment workers money because of their seemingly stable income

Potential Loss of EU Trade Benefits for Cambodia, Could Impact Borrowers

This matters to Cambodia’s MFI borrowers because so many of them now count on money they earn in the nation’s apparel, footwear and sporting goods manufacturing sectors, direct EBA beneficiaries.

Cambodia’s Debt Trap: Taking Out New Loans to Pay Back Old Loans

A new report suggests microfinance may no longer be working in Cambodia, where the industry holds at least $8 billion in outstanding debt and the average debt is about three times the 2017 GDP per capita.