Laos: Floods [DHA-01: 17-Sep-96]

                    LAO PDR - FLOODS
           DHA GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO.1
                   17 SEPTEMBER 1996



1. DUE TO TORRENTIAL RAINS WHICH STARTED MID AUGUST, HEAVY
FLOODS HAVE HIT THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PROVINCES OF HUAPHANH,
PHONGSALY, LUANPRABANG, LUANGNAMTHA, BORIKHAMSAY, SAVANHNAKHEAT,
VIENTIANE AND KHAMMUOANE AND VIENTIANE MUNICIPALITY.

2. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED, BUT OVER
10,000 HA OF PADDY FIELDS HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN FLOODED, OF
WHICH OVER 800 HA DESTROYED BY EROSION. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO
ROADS, BRIDGES, EMBANKMENTS, IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE,
HOUSES AND STATE/PRIVATE PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. A
TRIP TO NORTHERN PHONGSALY AND HUAPHANH PROVINCES IS BEING
ARRANGED BY THE GOVERNMENT, IN WHICH UNDP AND WFP WILL
PARTICIPATE.

3. THE GOVERNMENT HAS RELEASED AN INTERNATIONAL APPEAL FOR
ASSISTANCE. A MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF NGOS HAS
TAKEN PLACE AND ANOTHER MEETING WITH DONORS/EMBASSIES IS
SCHEDULED TO BE HELD SHORTLY.

4. ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE IS
NEEDED TO PROVIDE FOOD (RICE) AND BASIC RELIEF ITEMS SUCH
AS MOSQUITO NETS, BLANKETS, COOKING UTENSILS, ETC. AS WELL
AS INFRASTRUCTURAL AND AGRICULTURAL REHABILITATION.

5. DHA IS PREPARED TO SERVE AS A CHANNEL FOR CASH
CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE USED DURING THE IMMEDIATE RELIEF PHASE.
FUNDS ARE SPENT IN COORDINATION WITH RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS
OF THE UN SYSTEM, AND DHA PROVIDES DONOR GOVERNMENTS WITH
WRITTEN CONFIRMATION ON UTILIZATION OF FUNDS CONTRIBUTED.

6. SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO DHA ACCOUNT NO. CO.590.160.1 AT
SWISS BANK CORPORATION, CASE POSTALE 2770, CH-1211 GENEVA 2
WITH REFERENCE: LAO PDR FLOODS, DHA GENEVA.

7. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO
INFORM DHA GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF BILATERAL RELIEF
MISSIONS/PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING
VALUE BY ITEM.



TELEPHONE NO.+ 41-11-917-1234
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY: TEL. +41-22-917-2010
DESK OFFICER: MR. Y. FUKASAWA, DIRECT TEL. +41-22-917-3131
PRESS TO CONTACT: MS. M. MOULIN ACEVEDO, DIRECT TEL.
+41-22-917-2856
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: 41-22-917-0023
EMAIL: DHAGVA@DHA.UNICC.ORG



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