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Laos-US agreement kicks off disaster risk management programme

Laos and the United States have agreed to initiate a disaster risk management system (DMRS) and capacity building to monitor, plan for and respond to disasters.
The initiative is supported by the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

An agreement was signed on Tuesday by Director General of the Social Welfare Department under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Vilayphong Sisomvang and a representative of the Pacific Disaster Centre, Mrs Victoria Leat. 
The cooperation agreement ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Padeumphone Sonthany, along with senior officials from the ministry and invited guests.
The parties will cooperate to enhance the disaster management decision-making capabilities within the ministry, as well as to promote information sharing between the parties and their respective partners and stakeholders via their respective applications and systems.
Mr Padeumphone said Laos faced many hazards such as floods, droughts, landslides, storms, climate risks, and more.
“We must continue to combat these hazards by utilising available technologies and expertise through our partners in the region,” he said.
The OFDA-funded programme aims to make use of the latest data, science, and technology among Asean member states.
Executive Director at the Pacific Disaster Centre, Mr Ray Shirkhodai, said the project is a component of a wider regional programme of activities seeking to build an Asean-wide capacity for hazard monitoring, early warning, and decision support.
Under the project, the Central Disaster Management Committee would utilise the DMRS which reflected the borderless nature of hazard events and helped promote and facilitate regional coordination and cooperation to improve disaster outcomes, he said. Effective disaster management requires high-quality collaboration between government departments, INGOs, and communities.
The Pacific Disaster Centre and the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) have developed a joint flood impact analysis for Laos to help the nation estimate population exposure, humanitarian needs, and potential building and infrastructure exposure during widespread flooding.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update February 20, 2020)


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