Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No.1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid1, and in particular Article 2 and Article 15(3) thereof;
Whereas:
(1) Typhoon Ketsana hit Laos on 30 September 2009, causing unprecedented flooding and wind destruction in five southern provinces of Laos: Attapeu, Sekong, Saravan, Savannakhet and Champassack. Substantial damage to livelihoods and infrastructure affected over 180,000 people living in already very vulnerable areas;
(2) In the immediate aftermath the European Commission supported relief actions infavour of the victims of Typhoon Ketsana in the Mekong region with a totalEUR 9,000,000, of which EUR 2,676,515 for humanitarian operations in Laos untilJune 2010;
(3) In March 2010, the humanitarian community alerted international donors on thechallenging post-Ketsana recovery in Southern Laos. A rapid food security assessment conducted by the World Food Programme showed that the level of relief need had not been reducing as earlier anticipated in Ketsana-stricken areas. Food insecurity persisted as a result of incomplete recovery compounded by the effects of an exceptionally dry season