OCHA Situation Report No. 1 Lao People's Democratic Republic - Floods 29 September 2000
The present report summarises information from the UN Resident Coordinator's Office and the WFP Office in Vientiane. Summary 1. Lao PDR is currently experiencing the worst flooding since 1965. Early, heavy monsoon rains have caused the Mekong River to rise some six weeks earlier than usual in the monsoon season. River levels, particularly in the Mekong lower valley and in the rivers feeding the Mekong River in the central and southern provinces, have reached unprecedented high levels. On 15 September, the water level reached 14.32m in Thakhek (danger level 13.50m) in Savannaketh 12.17 (danger level 12.50m) and in Pakse 13.33 (danger level 12.00m). Although the floodwaters are receding at present, the entire Mekong catchment region is saturated. Further flooding may occur since the peak of the monsoon season will be reached by mid October. 2. Preliminary assessments show that the provinces of Khammuane, Savannakhet, Champasak and Saravan have been severely affected. Further assessments are continuing and it is expected that the numbers of those affected will increase significantly. Impact 3. Initial estimates show that the floods have affected approximately 450,000 people. However, the Government is still assessing to what extent people have been affected and the best form of assistance that might be required. 4. Early assessments indicated that people generally have some rice stocks for their immediate requirements but those who have suffered serious damage to their rice fields will be facing difficulties in about a month's time when they are expected to start to harvest their paddy. For the majority of the farmers affected, this coming harvest (late October/November) would be their main source of rice (considered to be the main staple in these areas) for the next twelve months. Reports are now coming through indicating that farmers will have to seek other means of meeting their rice needs. There is also some evidence of early rice shortages as rice prices are starting to increase in the affected areas. 5. According to the national authorities, there are four priority districts (three in Khamouane and one in Champasak) in which more than half of all the rice fields have been totally destroyed and the people seriously affected. In these districts a total of approximately 30,000 people have lost their crop completely and could be in need of relief food aid on a priority basis. 6. About 59,000 ha of rice have been destroyed in some of the most important rice growing areas of Lao. This reflects over 10% of the main rice crop of the country. The government is still assessing the extent of damage to infrastructure. The results of this assessment will be conveyed to a Disaster Coordination Meeting with Government/UN Agencies/Embassies/NGOs to be held in the World Food Programme (WFP) Office, on 2 October 2000. Preliminary requirements 7. There will be a clear need for food aid to many of the affected people but the Government is still awaiting final assessment information from the districts and provinces on the number of people that might be seriously affected and the extent of the need. 8. Preliminary requirements mentioned in the last report of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) show that there will be a need for seeds (in particular rice seeds); irrigation systems; animal vaccines; food and potable water. National Response 9. The Government has been carrying out surveys throughout the affected areas and compiling data through the National Disaster Management Committee. 10. Disaster response in Lao PDR is co-ordinated by the Government's National Disaster Management Committee. This comprises the Ministries of the Interior, Agriculture and Health, as well as the police, the Ministry of Defence and the Lao Red Cross. The national NGO "Lao Disaster Management Forum," a group periodically called together to share information on disaster needs, is also providing assistance to the National Disaster Management Committee. International Response 11. No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to date from the Government of Lao. 12. WFP is discussing with the National Disaster Management Committee the need for an immediate provision of USD 200,000 for assistance to priority affected groups. A WFP team, together with members of the National Disaster Management Committee, is carrying out a damage and needs assessment mission to the worst affected province of Khamouane. 13. The FAO Representative is in close contact with the national authorities, who have welcomed FAO's offer of fielding an assessment/project formulation mission. Further to discussions with the national authorities, it is expected that the mission will be fielded in October. The mission will undertake an in-depth assessment of the situation and prepare project documents for the rehabilitation of the agriculture sector. 14. IFRC has launched an appeal for CHF 871,317 (approximately USD 500,000) in cash, kind and services, to assist 42,000 people for five months. 15. The UN system in Lao has been closely monitoring the situation in consultation with the Lao Government. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Vientiane and will revert with further information, as it becomes available. 16. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int. Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers: Ms. S. Metzner-Strack / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka Direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 31 31/40 34 Press contact: (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 (in NY) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -