PHNOM PENH, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government will launch a cash relief program on Friday to support low-income families hit by soaring global fuel prices, according to an official press release issued Thursday.
The emergency assistance will be distributed across four rounds, scheduled for Sept. 25, Oct. 16, Nov. 16, and Dec. 16.
Under the program, poor, vulnerable, and at-risk families in the capital city of Phnom Penh will receive 15 U.S. dollars per round, while those in provincial towns and rural areas will receive 12 dollars and 10 dollars, respectively.
Additionally, each individual family member will receive an extra 1.25 dollars per round.
The relief efforts arrive as retail fuel prices in Cambodia continue to surge this week due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
The price of regular gasoline is now 5,250 riels (1.29 dollars) per liter, up 36.3 percent compared to pre-Middle East conflict levels, while the price of diesel is 5,450 riels (1.34 dollars), up 58.4 percent, according to the Ministry of Commerce. ■