Emergency roads repair

The project will consist of two phases. An emergency Phase I will focus on the rapid demining and reconstruction of roads in northwest Cambodia to support the massive and urgent reintegration of refugee and internally displaced populations, as well as humanitarian relief operations. Based on UN assessments of available land for resettlement, the stated preferences of refugees, and the current status of road access into these areas, a Phase I list of roads was developed in coordination with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Transitional Authority for Cambodia (UNTAC). Additionally, funds will be provided to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to carry out repair activities in Pursat for roads which are high priority for refugee resettlement. Approximately 355 km of roads will be repaired under Phase I, which is expected to commence by the third quarter of 1992 and be completed by May 1993. Phase II efforts will support economic reactivation in other areas of the country, including southeastern Cambodia. Under this phase, some 500 km of primary, secondary, and tertiary roads will be rehabilitated and improved to support continued resettlement and relief operations, as well as to permit economic reactivation of the country. Since Phase I efforts require physical access from Thai border areas as well as access to Thai officials for permits and the like, Phase I roads will mainly be constructed by Thai firms, although one Cambodian firm may have the capacity for the work and will be invited to participate in the bidding. It is unlikely that U.S. firms will participate in Phase I, though they may participate in Phase II.