A general view shows building and property developments in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on October 22, 2021. Photo: AFP

 Cambodia on Saturday began to provide cash handouts to almost 360,000 households with about 1.3 million people affected by inflationary pressures and recent floods, a senior official said.

"The government is expected to spend $31 million for inflationary pressures-hit families and $15 million for recent floods-stricken families for three months," said Chan Narith, undersecretary of state of the Economy and Finance Ministry in a press conference.

According to a directive signed by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen last week, those affected families had been identified by the Ministry of Planning to receive cash assistance based on areas.

Those in the capital Phnom Penh will receive $25 per family, with each household member getting an additional seven dollars, and those in provincial towns will be given $22, with each household member provided an additional six dollars, while those in rural areas will receive $20, with each household member getting an additional five dollars.

Recent flood-hit households in Phnom Penh and 15 provinces will receive $20 for each family.

The World Bank said in its Cambodia Economic Update released on Wednesday that rising global energy, fertilizer and food prices prompted a surge in inflation in the country, saying that consumer price inflation accelerated to 7.8 percent in June but eased to 4.9 percent in August 2022.