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1st int’l aid shipment arrives to assist Lao flood recovery effort

The first international aid from the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) arrived at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane yesterday for distribution to six central and southern provinces devastated by floods.
The shipment follows a request by the National Disaster Management Organisation of Laos on September 7 and the AHA Centre agreeing to render humanitarian assistance to the nation’s flood-affected people.
Honourable Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia as Chairman of the Central Disaster Management Committee of

Malaysia, agreed to AHA Centre’s request for the use of a Malaysian A400M military aircraft to deliver the humanitarian consignment to Laos, according to the Embassy of Malaysia in Vientiane.
The consignment consists of 2,596 hygiene kits, 1,400 jerry cans, 1,400 mosquito nets, 1,144 kitchen sets and 330 family kits.
The AHA humanitarian consignment was received by Ambassador of Malaysia to Laos, Mr Mohd Aini Atan; Acting Director General of the Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Vilayphong Sisomvang, as well as representatives from the AHA Centre as a show of Asean solidarity.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has been mobilising funds from society with many sectors donating money and food as well as drinking water which have been sent to help the victims.
Mr Vilayphong told Vientiane Times yesterday that “So far we have received over 5 billion kip from the business sector since mobilising funds on September 6.”
“We have also delivered food, drinking water, clothes, bedding, and other essential supplies worth over 1 billion kip to six provinces devastated by floods. We will continue to distribute cash and other supplies to the provinces,” he said.
According to the ministry, the government has provided initial emergency assistant of 1,650 million kip to six provinces with 500 million kip going to Champassak, 100 million kip to Xekong, 100 million kip to Attapeu, 600 million kip to Saravan, 50 million kip to Khammuan, and 300 million kip to Savannakhet.
Members of the public have also donated food, drinking water and essential supplies through the Foundation for Assisting Poor People of Laos and other volunteer stations in Vientiane to support the flood relief effort.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is continuing to mobilise funds and essential supplies and calling on state organisations and private businesses to assist the flood victims. Those who would like to help should call 021 213 005.
Tropical depression Podul passed over the country at the end of August and beginning of September bringing heavy rain and flooding to the six provinces of Khammuan, Savannakhet, Attapeu, Saravan, Champassak, and Xekong.

Some 377,703 people in 175,422 families of 1,466 villages in 43 districts have been affected by flooding. The floods killed 14 people with three deaths in Savannakhet province, two in Saravan, five in Champassak, and four in Attapeu.


 


By Phomphong Laoin
(Latest Update September 13, 2019)


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