Homeless beach vendors in Sihanoukville request more support from the local government

Hundreds of homeless beach vendors in Prey Veng, Sihanoukville, who left their hometowns and moved to Sihanoukville for a better work chance, demand the local government to allow them to stay where they are in Otres Beach and not to force them to move away. Some of the beach vendors claim that they had to leave their hometowns due to the lack of work opportunities and the debts they bear for banks and microfinance companies. While others say that their business had been affected after COVID pandemic and the lockdown during the past two years. Recently, the Cambodian government announced the reopening of the country again. Beach vendors have welcomed the decision; however, the local government has now asked them to leave or build proper shops if they want to continue selling their products.