Date: Wed, 20 Sep 95 07:24:34 EDT
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From: Emergency Information Administrator
Subject: Laos: Floods DHA-01
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LAO PDR - FLOODS
INFORMATION REPORT NO.1
19 SEPTEMBER 1995
SITUATION
1. TWO MONTHS OF HEAVY MONSOON RAINS IN MEKONG RIVER BASIN,
ASSOCIATED WITH A SERIES OF TROPICAL STORMS, HAVE RESULTED IN
EXTENSIVE FLOODS IN LARGE PARTS OF LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC.
2. WIDESPREAD FLOODING OCCURRED IN VIENTIANE, BORIKHAMSAY,
KHAMMOUANE, SAVANNAKHET AND CHAMPASSAK PROVINCES, WITH INUNDATION
OF RIVERINE AREAS - THE COUNTRY'S BEST AGRICULTURAL LAND.
3. DUE TO LACK OF ACCURATE DATA, INFORMATION ON TOTAL DAMAGE IS
INCOMPLETE. VIRTUALLY NO INFORMATION ON AFFECTED POPULATION HAS
BEEN PROVIDED.
4. PRELIMINARY REPORT ON ESTIMATES OF DAMAGE TO CROP AREAS
INDICATES : VIENTIANE PREFECTURE - 17,216HA CROP AREAS AFFECTED
(ESTIMATED LOSSES 14,392HA); VIENTIANE PROVINCE - 12,036HA
(7,611HA); BORIKHAMSAY - 12,771HA (8,157HA); KHAMMOUANE - 17,378HA
(13,546HA); SAVANNAKHET - 11,414HA (8,432HA); AND CHAMPASSAK -
13,592HA (7,043HA).
NATIONAL RESPONSE
6. GOVT HAS SO FAR ORGANIZED 3 ONE-DAY FLOOD ASSESSMENT
MISSIONS FOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM UN AND DONOR GOVERNMENTS.
7. ON 17 AUGUST, GOVT ISSUED EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE TO
AVERT FLOODING IN VIENTIANE. WITH LIMITED INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
(TOTALLING SOME USD 100,000), GOVT POSITIONED SANDBAGS AND
REINFORCED CERTAIN AREAS OF THE MEKONG RIVERBANK IN VIENTIANE.
8. ON 7 SEPTEMBER, MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE (MLSW)
CALLED FOR IN-COUNTRY DONATIONS FOR THE RELIEF OF FLOOD VICTIMS.
MLSW SET UP COMMITTEES BOTH CENTRAL AND LOCAL LEVELS FOR THOROUGH
DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF AND MOBILIZING FUNDS AND DONATIONS.
9. ON 11 SEPTEMBER, GOVT FORMALLY REQUESTED A JOINT FAO/WFP
ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE CROP LOSSES AND OTHER DAMAGE TO THE
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.
10. AS YET, GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ISSUED FORMAL APPEAL FOR
INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO OVERALL NUMBER OF VICTIMS OF
FLOODS.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
11. ON 16 SEPTEMBER, DHA DISPATCHED UNDAC MISSION TO REINFORCE
UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN VIENTIANE IN ASSESSING SITUATION AND
IMMEDIATE RELIEF NEEDS IN COOPERATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF FAO,
WFP, UNHCR, WHO AND UNICEF, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF UN RESIDENT
COORDINATOR. THE TEAM IS CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF FIELD ASSESSMENT.
12. LAO RED CROSS, WITH BRANCHES IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED
PROVINCES, IS PROVIDING SOME ASSISTANCE.
TELEPHONE NO. +41-22-917-1234
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY: TELEPHONE NO. +41-22-917-2010
DESK OFFICER: MR. Y. FUKASAWA, DIRECT TELEPHONE NO.
+41-22-917-3131
PRESS TO CONTACT: MS. M. MOULIN-ACEVEDO, DIRECT TEL.
+41-22--917-2856
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
= DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS +
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