Lao and Japanese soldiers take part in a disaster relief drill in Vientiane. - VT
VIENTIANE: A ceremony took place at Angnamhoum lake in Vientiane on Wednesday (Dec 20) to conclude the operation, which was organised under a cooperation project between Laos’ Ministry of National Defence and Japan’s Ministry of Defence that was implemented from 2016-2023.
The ceremony was attended by Laos’ Deputy Minister of National Defence, Major General Chanthong Soneta-ath, and the Japanese Ambassador to Laos, Kenichi Kobayashi.
Practical work to strengthen the capacity of humanitarian mediation and disaster relief between the two ministries took place from 2017-2023 over a period of five years.
Under the project, the Japanese government provided rescue vehicles and equipment to the Lao government worth US$850,000.
These included a vehicle with rescue frame equipment, an ambulance containing medical equipment, and 17 items of land rescue equipment.
In 2022 and 2023 Japan provided trainers to broaden knowledge and skills in search and rescue operations and emergency medical assistance at Laos’ Ministry of National Defence. Four training sessions took place, in which 246 people were trained.
Japan’s Ministry of Defence also provided funds for 24 Lao military officers to go on a study tour and attend teaching, search and rescue, and emergency medicine courses with the Japanese Self-Defence Force on two occasions.
Japan also provided funding for the drivers of four types of heavy machinery to train at the School of Mechanics of the Japan Self-Defence Force for humanitarian aid and disaster relief on four occasions.
These courses enabled 20 people to learn how to handle heavy machinery when clearing landslides, building bridges, and dealing with soil erosion.
This year, the Japanese government also donated an ambulance and 100 rescue boats to Laos’ Ministry of National Defence for use in humanitarian work. - Vientiane Times/ANN
