Lao People's Democratic Republic (the)

PAKISTAN

As of 6 August, 67 people had been killed, 128 injured and 222 houses damaged due to flooding as a result of heavy rains between 20 June and 5 August. Heavy rains, the overflow of water channels and high winds caused most of the damage to property and loss of life. The greatest number of fatalities have been reported in the Punjab province where 31 people have died, and 71 people have been injured.

CAMBODIA

Regional Summary of Week 32 and Outlook for Week 33

David Boyle

TTAPEU PROVINCE, LAOS — Samled Inthavong had almost finished hoisting his family members into a boat when a building uprooted by the collapse of a dam upstream slammed into his house.

Bobbing atop the surging floodwaters in the inky midnight darkness, he could only watch as his house caved in on his grandparents trapped inside.

“My grandparents couldn’t move. They died in the house,” he said in a rescue center where he sat with his few remaining possessions, including a photo of his grandmother Chanthai shot on a mobile phone.

1. HIGHLIGHTS

a. Due to monsoon season and heavy rainfall brought by TS 11 (Son-Tinh), 762 villages in 55 districts of 13 provinces have reported flooding as of 1 Aug 2018.

b. On 24 July 2018, collateral flash-flood occurred in Attapeu Province due to water discharge from Xepien-Xe Nam Noyu Dam, affecting more than 13,088 people.

watchariya.l

Summary of RDRT Operation at effected area by devastating flash flood in Attapue province, Lao PDR

BANGKOK, 9th August 2018 (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) delivered 383,300 baht of donated money to flood-affected people in Lao PDR.

The TAT Governor, Yuthasak Supasorn, said on Thursday (Aug 9th) that TAT organized a charity golf event to raise funds for the flood-stricken people of Laos. Many people are missing and several are feared dead after an under-construction hydropower dam in southern Laos collapsed, causing flash floods which swept away homes.

Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should increase the speed of negotiation for, coordination of, and responses to emergency food aid releases to enhance food security in Asia.

Applications for UN International Conference on Space-Based Technologies for Disaster Risk Reduction close 31 August

Highlights

• The water level is receding in most affected areas, but road access remains difficult due to floods and mud. Some areas are accessible only by helicopter.

• Based on the Government’s information, 13 villages have been affected, five are considered severely affected. The Government has declared the affected area a National Disaster Zone.

• About 2,100 people in the Ban Bok camp and the three camps accessible only by air require additional support.

At a glance
- On Monday 23 July, heavy rains overwhelmed an auxiliary dam of a hydroelectric project, causing catastrophic flash flooding in villages downstream.
- More than a hundred people remain missing and thousands are taking shelter in temporary camps.
- WHO is working with the Ministry of Health and partners to prevent, detect and control disease outbreaks and ensure affected communities can access life-saving health services.

Current situation

Climate and disaster resilience planning of vulnerable settlements in Laos PDR funded through the Adaptation Fund

Following a two year process,
UN-Habitat was accredited to the Adaptation Fund in August 2015. It has since successfully submitted a concept note entitled, “Enhancing the climate and disaster resilience of the most vulnerable rural and emerging urban human settlements in Lao PDR”.

Laos has suspended consideration of new hydropower projects in the country pending reviews of development policy after the breach of a dam last month left at least 34 dead with 100 still missing, Lao sources say.

The announcement followed an August 6-7 meeting of the country’s cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at which plans were also made to carry out safety inspections of all hydropower projects already built or under construction in the Southeast Asian country.

On 18 and 19 July, Tropical Storm Son-Tinh caused heavy rains and flooding in 55 districts of 13 provinces across Lao PDR. According to the Government, over 24,000 families are affected by these floods thus far.

In addition to seasonal flooding, an unprecedented flash flood occurred on 23 July in Attapeu Province due to water discharge from the Xepien-Xe Nam Noy Dam. As of 7 August, the Government informed that 13,100 people in Sanamxay are in need of assistance. Displacement has an immense impact on the daily life of over 6,000 people located in at least four evacuation sites.

Floods and mud hamper aid delivery

PHNOM PENH, Aug 7 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Thousands of people in Laos, whose homes were swept away when a dam burst, are sheltering in areas contaminated by landmines, humanitarians said, as floods and mud hamper aid delivery.

The United Nations (U.N.) said on Monday that 34 people were reported dead, 97 were missing and 6,000 had been evacuated due to flash floods that followed the collapse of a hydropower dam in Laos last month.

This map illustrates the satellite-detected surface waters extent in Samakkhixay district, Attapeu province, as observed from the KOMPSAT-5 imagery acquired on 30 July 2018. Satellite detected water extent analysis was performed by Centro Internazionale In Monitoraggio Ambientale Research (CIMA) & Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST). Within the current map extent, a total of 1,617 ha were detected as inundated along the Xe Kong river.

03 August 2018 Geneva, Switzerland - In the middle of the monsoon season, Lao People’s Democratic Republic is facing floods caused by heavy rains.

Key Figures

13,100 people affected in Sanamxay District

6,000 people evacuated to emergency shelters

13,100 people targeted in Sanamxay district

$5.6M requested (millions)

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

• Provide life-saving assistance to people affected by the flash floods and re-establish basic services.

• Support the restoration of livelihoods and self-reliance.

Highlights

• Tropical Storm Son-Tinh caused heavy rains in 13 provinces and unprecedented flash floods in Sanamxay District in Attapeu Province. The water level is receding slowly, but road access remains difficult.

• Based on the Government’s information, 13 villages have been affected, five are considered severely affected. The Government has declared the affected area as a National Disaster Zone.

• Current identified needs are water, health, food, shelter and psychosocial support.

On the morning of July 30, at the headquarters of the Laos Embassy in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran QuyKien, on behalf of the leaders, cadres, civil servants and employees of the Ministry encouraged and gave gifts to support Lao in overcoming consequences of hydroelectric dam collapse in Attapeu province. Mr. ViengxayDarasene, Counselor of Laos Embassy in Vietnam received Deputy Minister Tran QuyKien.