首都プノンペンの渋滞の解消を当初の目的に、プノンペンにある「National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia（NPIC）」の学生たちが、学校の椅子やプロペラなどを利用し、有人ドローンを製作しました。渋滞の解消だけでなく、消火活動やプノンペン市内で乗客を運ぶエアタクシーとしての利用を目指したいそうです。
Reuters, “Buckle Up: Cambodia Students Build Manned Drone to Aid Community”, 21 September 2021, by Prak Chan Thul, https://www.reuters.com/world/buckle-up-cambodian-students-build-manned-drone-aid-community-2021-09-21/
Trivia About Mekong River! (26 Sep・World Rivers Day)
(Article in English follows after Japanese)
本日は「世界川の日」なので、カンボジアを流れる、有名なメコン川についての雑学をご紹介します！
メコン川は、世界で12番目、アジアで7番目に長い川です。
川の長さは、水源のチベット高原から河口の南シナ海まで、約4,500kmあります。
メコン川は、６か国（中国、ミャンマー、タイ、ラオス、カンボジア、ベトナム）を流れています。
地域によって、川の名称が変わります。それぞれ、Lancang（中国）、Mekang Myit（ミャンマー）、Mae Nam Kong（タイ・ラオス）、Tonle Thum（カンボジア）、Cuu Long（ベトナム）と呼ばれています。
アマゾン川に次いで、世界で2番目に生物多様性のある川です。
メコン川には、メコンオオナマズ、イラワジイルカ、カワウソ、メコンオオゴイなどが生息しています。
メコン川は、周辺地域において、漁業や農業へのサポートという重要な役割を担っています。
近年、河川上流でのダム建設や気候変動により、メコン川の水位と自然の生態系に大きな影響が出ています。
We celebrate World Rivers Day today with some trivia about the famous river that flows through Cambodia ー Mekong River!
Mekong River is the 12th longest river in the world and 7th longest river in Asia
Mekong River has a length of about 4,500km, stretching from the river source in the Tibetan Plateau to the river mouth at South China Sea
The river flows through six countries ー China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
The river name differs in each country ー Lancang（China）、Mekaung Myit（Myanmar）、Mae Nam Kong（Thailand・Laos）、Tonle Thum/Tonle Mekong（Cambodia）、Cuu Long（Vietnam）
Mekong River is the second most biologically diverse area after the Amazon River
The Mekong Giant Catfish, Irawaddy dolphins, otters and Giant barb are some of the animals that can be found in the Mekong River
Mekong River is an important source of support in fishing and agriculture for people who live around the river
In recent years, due to dam construction upriver and climate change, it has brought about impact to Mekong River’s water level and natural habitat
According to the “Suicide Worldwide in 2019” report, released in June this year by the World Health Organization (WHO), Cambodia ranked seventh amongst the ten ASEAN countries with number of deaths due to suicide in 2019.
While Cambodia’s suicide death rates may not be as high as compared to its neighbouring countries, it is still a major concern in Cambodia. According to Cambodian NGO, “Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) Cambodia”, there is still a lack of quality health services and support for people who are suffering from mental health or psychological problems in Cambodia. And unlike Japan, currently Cambodia does not have a National Suicide Prevention Strategy as well. It is said that the Khmer Rouge Genocide and poverty in the country are some of the factors leading to mental health issues in the Cambodian society.
Suicide is a global health concern. Suicide should not be an individual problem but a problem of everyone, and it requires more of our attention and awareness to tackle this social issue.
世界自殺に関する基本情報・Key Facts About Global Suicides
(１) 世界で毎年約70万人が自殺によって死亡している。
Every year about 700,000 people die by suicide globally.
(2) 15～19歳の年齢層の若者の死亡原因として、自殺は4位である。
Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death amongst young people aged 15-19.
(3) 世界中の77％の自殺は低中所得国で発生。
77% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
(4) 世界的によくある自殺手段は、殺虫剤による服毒、首吊り、そして拳銃である。
Common methods of suicide globally are, self-poisoning by pesticide, hanging and firearms.
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心の健康に関する相談は、日本厚生労働省（まもろうよこころ）電話: 0570-064-556（日本語対応）、またはTELL Japan 電話：03-5774-0992（英語対応）へご連絡ください。
If you need help, you can call the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Mamorouyo Kokoro) at 0570-064-556 (Japanese-speaking), or TELL Japan at 03-5774-0992 (English-speaking).
In Cambodia, you can call TPO Cambodia at +855 (0) 23 63 66 991.
参考文献・Reference(s)：
International Association for Suicide Prevention, “World Suicide Prevention Day New Theme”, 15 April 2021, https://www.iasp.info/2021/04/15/world-suicide-prevention-day-new-theme/
Khmer Times, “Suicide A Major Concern With 800 Lives Lost In Cambodia Each Year”, Sar Socheath, 22 June 2021, https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50878655/suicide-a-major-concern-with-800-lives-lost-in-cambodia-each-year/
World Health Organization, “Suicide”, 17 June 2021, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
World Health Organization, “Suicide Worldwide In 2019”, 16 June 2021, https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/suicide-data
World Health Organization, “National Suicide Prevention Strategies”, 30 November 2018, https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/279765/9789241515016-eng.pdf
For travellers who are travelling to Cambodia via transit flight in Singapore, please be informed of the following transit requirement by the Singapore government.
From 9 September 2021, all travellers entering Singapore or transiting flights in Singapore, are required to take Covid-19 PCR test with negative test certificate issued within 48 hours before departure from their point of embarkation (for certain countries including Japan). Travellers are also required to present the negative test certificate prior to boarding.」
For more information on the above requirement, please refer to the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH), Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) or Singapore Airlines website below. You may also contact Singapore Airlines directly for any clarifications required.
The Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has released a “Working Conditions Handbook” in Khmer Language for Cambodia nationals who are currently working in Japan, and/or for Cambodia nationals who are planning to come to Japan for job employment.
