Attachments
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.
c. Coordination among Government of Lao PDR agencies is being carried out for the distribution of relief items from Vientiane to the affected communities. Camp management is currently underway to ensure that internally displaced persons are housed temporarily until the permanent dwellings are built.
d. Government of Lao PDR requests humanitarian partners to contact Emergency Call Center Number 1511 and 1522 for offer of international donation.
e. Infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction, which includes construction of temporary shelters, is expected in the next 2 months. Besides that, psychosocial support and post trauma mental health needs are crucial as the affected populace return to their homes.
f. An in-depth post disaster needs assessment is important as the relief phase transitions into the early recovery. This would require multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination across public, private and humanitarian sectors.
2. SUMMARY OF EVENTS, FORECAST, AND ANTICIPATED RISK
a. Heavy rainfall brought by TS 11 (Son-Tinh) on 18-19 July 2018 has caused flooding 349 villages, 41 districts, in the following provinces: Attapeu, Savanhnakhet, Khammouan, Xayabuly, Bolikhamsay, Luang Prabang, Bokeo, Sekong, Xiengkhouang, Oudomxay. On 24 July 2018, collateral flash-flood occurred in Attapeu Province due to discharge from Xepien-Xenamnoyu Dam, due to compromised safety of Saddle Dam D and heavy rainfall along Xe Pian River.
b. General public and humanitarian partners are advised to monitor Mekong River Commission Flash Flood Guidance for 1 hour, 3 hours and 6 hours in Lao PDR. According the most recent forecast (1 August), additional floods may occur in southern part of Lao PDR.
c. Based on the comparison of inundation areas between 24 and 31 July 2018, the inundated areas have receded significantly. Areas which were flooded or inundated are mostly agricultural land (paddy fields and crops).
d. There are concerns that the flood would cause additional risk to the local population, particularly in Khammounae, Savannakhet, and Xiangkhuang provinces as flood water may have been exposed to some of the unexploded ordnance (UXO) leftovers from the war in 1970s that were previously buried under the soil into the open, increasing the possibility of contact with local population. Another concern is that the flow of the flood water may have displaced some of the UXOs and moved them into areas that were already considered clean.