Lao Red Cross President Dr Snivourast Sramany last week distributed rice and salt to flood effected communities in Soukhouma and Mounlapamok districts in Champassack province, along with the Lao Red Cross President of Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province, Ms Loyphim Saiphan.
According to a press release from the Lao Red Cross in Vientiane, the Lao and Thai Red Cross distributed sticky rice and salt which the two organizations received from branched of Thai and Chinese Red Cross to donate the flood victims in the two districts.
Lao and Thai officials distributed the rice and salt to 13 villages, including seven villages in Soukhouma district and six villages in Mounlapamok district. More than 4,000 families received the rations.
Each family received 15 kg of sticky rice and 5 kg of salt. The total value of the assistance was estimated at 445 million kip.
The two districts were badly affected during tropical storms Nock-Ten and Haima, which caused the Mekong River to burst its banks.
More than 1,200 hectares of rice paddy in Soukhouma district were washed away. Essential infrastructure including six main roads and local immigration schemes also lack clean drinking water because their artesian wells were damaged.
Over 1,500 hectares of rice paddy were affected, and livestock and other commercial crops were washed away. Road access to the two districts is now difficult because roads were also badly damage.