Severe flooding, caused by Typhoon Kammuri and heavy rains, has swept across much of South East Asia causing death, displacement and economic disruption. In Laos, three regions have been very badly hit - Vientiane, Borikhamxay and Khamuane. Surrounding Vientiane, the Mekong River swelled to its highest level in around 100 years and submerged five districts. Reports state that around 8,145 families in 145 villages in this area have been affected by the flooding. A further 39 villages have been flooded in Borikhamxay province. About 13,041 hectares of rice fields were flooded, killing at least 50 cows, 40 buffalos and 300 pigs. Due to existing poor infrastructure in Laos, communication links have been severely affected by the flooding, making access to relief very difficult.
The key needs are for medicine, food, water, non-food household items and school books. Clearing up the environment, to prevent epidemics, is also a priority. ActionAid Vietnam staff are carrying out initial needs assessments and have disbursed an initial £5,000 to local partners for relief work.
ActionAid Vietnam plans to reach 2,000 families in the two districts of Pakxan and Pakkading with food packages, non-food items and school support. It is working with local people to ensure that the most seriously affected people are being targeted by the relief effort.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
People raise their hands during a protest demanding for permanent housing after floods damaged their homes in the city of Patna, the capital of the eastern Indian state of Bihar, September ...
