They existed on a government food stipend of .25 cents per child per day which is only 1/3 the nutrition of the local populace, themselves the most malnourished people in Southeast Asia. They had no potable water, toilets, bathing facility, electricity, blankets, mosquito nets, health care, or personal hygiene supplies. Very malnourished they were extremely lethargic and suffered from a host of easily preventable illnesses and parasites. An average of 30 slept like spoons in each of the 15' x 20' rooms. They had no adult supervision or protection from Khmer men who came around at night after the girls; during the following year 30 disappeared or fled.
Given their long-standing problems and the inimical development threats arrayed against them, foremost the hill tribes of northeast Cambodia need an educated leadership to protect their culture and resources, and achieve equity. Their homeless child population offers the human resources from which to create that capacity.
