Laos |
Disaster Assistance at a Glance
Recent Disaster Declarations:
Floods
OFDA Response:
Emergency relief supplies
OFDA Preparedness:
Disaster preparedness, capacity building, Avian Influenza preparedness
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Laos Floods, 8-19-2008
Between August 12 and 18, heavy rainfall across northern Laos and neighboring parts of Thailand led to flooding along the Mekong river. The flooding and resulting landslides killed at least six people and affected up to 151,000 others. On August 18, the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) at the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare in Laos reported that floods had affected 565 villages in 10 provinces, including Vientiane Municipality. Flood waters inundated agricultural land, destroyed crops, and damaged homes and infrastructure. The week of August 17, U.N. agencies and the NDMO conducted a more complete assessment of affected areas.
On August 19, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Mary Grace McGeehan issued a disaster declaration due to the impact of flooding in Laos. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane to the Lao Red Cross for the purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, including shelter materials, water, and water purification tablets, to populations affected by the flooding.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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