Situational Overview
The Government and humanitarian partners continue to respond to the emergency and early recovery needs resulting from the typhoon Ketsana in the five affected southern provinces of Lao PDR.
Cluster Response as of 19 January 2010 Food Security
As of 31 December 2009, WFP had distributed 4,400 tons of rice and canned fish, which is an increase of 2,523 tons from the November distributions.
During the months of January to March 2010 an additional 136,716 people will receive food aid in the four affected provinces.
The INGOs working with WFP to distribute food include CARE, Village Focus International, Health Unlimited, Oxfam, World Vision, and Rural Livelihood Improvement Project (RLIP).
The French Red Cross in partnership with the Lao Red Cross has distributed 84 tons of food to 2,606 people in two districts of Attapeu province.
CARE distributed vegetable seeds and tools to 24 villages in two districts of Sekong province for planting along riverine vegetable gardens.
Handicap International has distributed seeds and tools for household gardens to 272 people, of whom 154 are children (73 males and 81 females) and 118 are adults (57 male and 61 female). They also trained these families on crop management. The beneficiaries represent about 40 families with members living with disabilities in two districts of Savannakhet province.