PHNOM PENH, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia signed on Thursday to support the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) country strategic plan (2019-2023), aiming at addressing food security and nutrition challenges in the country.

The Letter of Understanding on the WFP country strategic plan was inked here between Cambodian Foreign Ministry secretary of state Luy David and WFP-Cambodia country Director Francesca Erdelmann.

David said the WFP country strategic plan is in line with the Cambodia's Rectangular Strategy Phase 4, which aims to build the foundation for a vision to achieve the goal of transforming Cambodia into an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.

"This important document will serve as a solid foundation to further enhance our collaboration to address many issues of our concerns such as malnutrition and chronic illnesses, as well as to respond to droughts and floods that put in danger the livelihood of our people," he said.

Under the country strategic plan, the WFP will work together with Cambodian relevant ministries and institutions to improve food and nutrition security for the most vulnerable children, to mitigate the effects of climate change, and to strengthen capacities for disaster management officials, among others, Erdelmann said.

"We have estimated that we will need some 50 million U.S. dollars to implement the program outlined in our country strategic plan," she said. "The Royal Government has been a long-time supporter of our program in Cambodia and I am confident that together we will be able to mobilize these funds over the next five years."

According to Erdelmann, about 21 percent of households in Cambodia could not afford a nutritious diet, and 32 percent of children under five did not grow and develop adequately for a healthy and productive live due to a lack of good nutrition.