Bounyod Chanthavone (right), Edelweiss Silan (centre) and Mark Gallagher attending the kick-off ceremony of the Yagi Flood Relief Response Cooperation project. - VT
VIENTIANE: More than 1,000 vulnerable families in communities affected by Typhoon Yagi in Hadxaifong and Sikhottabong districts of Vientiane have benefitted from relief assistance provided by World Vision in collaboration with the European Union.
Household supplies for distribution to these families were handed over on Tuesday to the Head of Office of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Bounyod Chanthavone, and a representative of the families.
The handover of supplies took place during a kick-off ceremony for the Laos Yagi Flood Relief Response Cooperation project, organised by World Vision and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and attended by World Vision’s National Director, Edelweiss Silan, and the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Laos, Mark Gallagher.
The supplies included treated mosquito nets, blankets, tarpaulins, hygiene and kitchen kits, according to a press release from World Vision.
Laos experienced torrential rain when the tail end of Typhoon Yagi passed over the country in September. This heavy rainfall led to severe flooding and landslides, affecting thousands of people including vulnerable children and families.
According to the latest data from UN Disaster Risk Reduction and Response (UNDRRR) and the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, 16 provinces throughout Laos were affected as storm Yagi moved across the country, including 1,437 villages in 133 districts. Since July, 204,500 people have been affected by floods, landslides and storms.
National Director of World Vision International Laos, Edelweiss Silan, said “Children and the most vulnerable families suffer the most when disaster strikes.
With a changing climate and the degradation of forests and the natural environment, many children face disasters that are harsher than in the past.”
“We thank the European Union for supporting the disaster response in Laos. We also thank local partners for conducting community assessments to identify the beneficiaries and help facilitate distribution.”
The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to the Lao PDR, Mark Gallagher, said “The European Union’s commitment to humanitarian action is not just about the resources or the logistics. It is an expression of our solidarity with the people of Laos. Together with our partner, World Vision International, we remain committed to helping those most in need, ensuring that no one is left behind in times of crisis.” - Vientiane Times/ANN
