DHAKA: Drought, severe heat and water shortages are disrupting schools, killing animals and ravaging rice crops in Southeast Asia.

Thailand, Laos and Cambodia have recorded temperatures up to 44.6°C (112.4°F), beating all-time national highs, according to data from a commercial weather service Weather Underground, CNN reports Thursday (May 12).

Singapore too, has seen abnormally high temperatures, while in Malaysia, lakes have dried up and vegetable output has withered.

In Cambodia, schoolchildren have vastly diminished water supplies.

‘It’s very difficult to get water for the latrines,’ says Srey Norn, a 13-year-old girl from Tboung Khmum Province.

‘Because some wells have dried up... and I have many friends who don’t come to school because it’s too hot.’

Hen Seha, Srey Norn’s teacher, is concerned. ‘I have seen an increase in absenteeism of 30 or 40%,’ he says.

‘I want to install a fan but our school doesn’t have any electricity.’

BDST: 1354 HRS, May 12, 2016
SAS/RR