1. TWO MONTHS OF HEAVY MONSOON RAINS IN MEKONG RIVER BASIN, ASSOCIATED WITH A SERIES OF TROPICAL STORMS, HAVE RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE FLOODS IN LARGE PARTS OF LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.

2. WIDESPREAD FLOODING OCCURRED IN VIENTIANE, BORIKHAMSAY, KHAMMOUANE, SAVANNAKHET AND CHAMPASSAK PROVINCES, WITH INUNDATION OF RIVERINE AREAS - THE COUNTRY'S BEST AGRICULTURAL LAND.

3. DUE TO LACK OF ACCURATE DATA, INFORMATION ON TOTAL DAMAGE IS INCOMPLETE. VIRTUALLY NO INFORMATION ON AFFECTED POPULATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED.

4. PRELIMINARY REPORT ON ESTIMATES OF DAMAGE TO CROP AREAS INDICATES : VIENTIANE PREFECTURE - 17,216HA CROP AREAS AFFECTED ESTIMATED LOSSES (14,392HA); VIENTIANE PROVINCE - 12,036HA (7,611HA); BORIKHAMSAY - 12,771HA (8,157HA); KHAMMOUANE - 17,378HA (13,546HA); SAVANNAKHET - 11,414HA (8,432HA); AND CHAMPASSAK - 13,592HA (7,043HA).

NATIONAL RESPONSE

6. GOVT HAS SO FAR ORGANIZED 3 ONE-DAY FLOOD ASSESSMENT MISSIONS FOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM UN AND DONOR GOVERNMENTS.

7. ON 17 AUGUST, GOVT ISSUED EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE TO AVERT FLOODING IN VIENTIANE. WITH LIMITED INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE (TOTALLING SOME USD 100,000), GOVT POSITIONED SANDBAGS AND REINFORCED CERTAIN AREAS OF THE MEKONG RIVERBANK IN VIENTIANE.

8. ON 7 SEPTEMBER, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (MLSW) CALLED FOR IN-COUNTRY DONATIONS FOR THE RELIEF OF FLOOD VICTIMS. MLSW SET UP COMMITTEES BOTH CENTRAL AND LOCAL LEVELS FOR THOROUGH DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF AND MOBILIZING FUNDS AND DONATIONS.

9. ON 11 SEPTEMBER, GOVT FORMALLY REQUESTED A JOINT FAO/WFP ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE CROP LOSSES AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.

10. AS YET, GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ISSUED FORMAL APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO OVERALL NUMBER OF VICTIMS OF FLOODS.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

11. ON 16 SEPTEMBER, DHA DISPATCHED UNDAC MISSION TO REINFORCE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN VIENTIANE IN ASSESSING SITUATION AND IMMEDIATE RELIEF NEEDS IN COOPERATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF FAO, WFP, UNHCR, WHO AND UNICEF, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR. THE TEAM IS CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF FIELD ASSESSMENT.

12. LAO RED CROSS, WITH BRANCHES IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED PROVINCES, IS PROVIDING SOME ASSISTANCE.

TELEPHONE NO. +41-22-917-1234
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY: TELEPHONE NO. +41-22-917-2010
DESK OFFICER: MR. Y. FUKASAWA, DIRECT TELEPHONE NO. +41-22-917-3131
PRESS TO CONTACT: MS. M. MOULIN-ACEVEDO, DIRECT TEL. +41-22--917-2856
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH