Highlights
-
On 7 September, Super Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm in the region in decades, made landfall in Northern Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (PDR).
-
The strength and intensity of the typhoon has left widespread flooding and continued rains are expected to worsen the situation until 17 September, impacting an estimated 140,000 people, and 28,000 families, in Northern and Central Lao PDR.
-
Preliminary information from the Government indicates that there has been serious damage to property and affecting communities across Northern and Central areas, including in Vientiane Capital.
-
UNICEF has already responded to WASH-related requests for assistance from partner line Ministries, and the Government of Lao PDR has called for humanitarian partners to support on needs assessments and to ensure coordination of any response efforts through the cluster system.
-
If requested under its emergency response mandate and commitment to alleviating the suffering of affected children and populations, UNICEF’s response will focus on rapid assessment, mobilization of partners and resources, and sector coordination. Emergency interventions in WASH, nutrition, health, education, and child protection (including humanitarian cash transfers) will be prioritized.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
-
140,000 people affected including an estimated 60,000 children.
-
At least 60,000 women directly impacted.
-
28,000 families in need of support.
-
443 families evacuated and 3 confirmed fatalities.
-
Flooding across 8 Provinces.
Funding Overview and Partnerships
UNICEF Lao PDR is preparing to utilize existing flexible resources for emergency supplies and immediate actions, and to activate response partnerships. Line Ministries have put in both formal and informal requests for support and UNICEF is ready to mobilize additional resources if the Government issues a formal request for international assistance to deal with the flood response which continues to have impacts on children across the country.
UNICEF has been able to quickly mobilize funds from internal resources and will likely begin focusing on increasing its human and financial resources to respond at scale.
UNICEF is awaiting the Government’s rapid assessment missions to gather evidence and understand the catastrophic consequences of the typhoon on the most affected provinces and communities, especially the needs of children and women. Based on this information, UNICEF will mobilize and allocate further funds and expertise to support the Government response plans in support of children, women, and families in the most affected areas - in line with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children.
Situation Overview
Following Typhoon Yagi’s landfall on 7 September, heavy rains and flooding have severely impacted northern and central provinces in Lao PDR, with nearly 140,000 people affected. The worst-hit areas include Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane Capital, along with significant impacts in Phongsaly, Oudomxay, Bokeo, Xiengkhouang, and Xayaboury. A total of 32 districts, 486 villages, and 27,972 families (139,826 people, including 59,662 women) have been affected, with 443 families evacuated and three confirmed fatalities. Current reports show floods have damaged 3,167 hectares of paddy fields, 121 houses, 41 roads, and 7 health facilities, while actual numbers are likely to be far higher.
Key infrastructure in several provinces has been disrupted, including bridges and roads, while parts of Luang Prabang are under threat from rising levels of the Mekong and Nam Kham rivers. The floods have severely disrupted social services, cutting off access to education, psychosocial support, and food programmes in many areas. Around 50 schools in Luang Namtha are closed, and hospitals are mobilizing emergency teams while temporary health posts are being set up to address immediate medical needs.
Priorities include restoring essential services, ensuring clean water access, and providing social protection measures for the affected populations, with a focus on long-term recovery and infrastructure assessments.