The Typhoon Haima Joint Damage, Losses and Needs Assessment (JDLNA) report was launched 4 November by the Government of Lao PDR. Prepared with support from the United Nations and Development Partners, the assessment was carried out in the 4 most affected provinces, Xiengkhouang, Xayaboury, Vientiane and Bolikhamxay. This was the first time that all the relevant partners working on disaster preparedness and response efforts came together in such an initiative.

The total estimated value of damages due to floods in 2011, including Typhoon Haima, amounts to 1,764,547,062,641 KIP (USD 220.6 million). Typhoon Haima struck central and northern Lao PDR on 24 and 25 June.

More than 400,000 people have been affected by flooding during the May to October rainy season. This has seriously impacted on the livelihoods of people living in 12 out of the country's 17 provinces. This year's floods were among the worst in history and according to government statistics this was the first time since 1962 that the northern province of Xiengkhouang flooded.

Read the Typhoon Haima: Joint Damage, Losses and Needs Assessement Report

Photo: A flood affected village in Bolikhamxay Province, Photo credit: UNHABITAT/Eeva Nyyssonen

More than 250 representatives from the UN, government, development partners and private sector gathered at the Lao Plaza Hotel, 24 October, to commemorate the 66th Birthday of the United Nations and 56th year of Lao – UN collaboration.

At the event the UN Resident Coordinator in Lao PDR, Mr. Minh Pham, praised the government for its development gains and stressed the importance of making sure that everyone benefits, “We must work harder to ensure that development gains are shared by all Lao people, the vast majority of whom continue to live and work in rural areas.” He added, “Despite the considerable progress of recent years, poverty and near poverty remain widespread, and inequalities between rural and urban areas are rising.”

The Lane Xang Cultural Group, made up of young Khaen players, trained by teachers from the National School of Dance and Music, entertained the crowd with their performance. 

Read the full speech by Mr. Minh Pham, UN Resident Coordinator in Lao PDR

Read the Secretary-General's UN Day_message

Photo: UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Minh Pham and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith Photo Credit: UNDPLaoPDR/Toby Fricker

International Day for Disaster Reduction this year recognizes the vital role of children and young people in disaster reduction.

Flooding poses a great risk to the population of Lao PDR with 12 out 17 provinces affected by severe flooding caused by tropical storm Haima and Nock-Ten this year.

Being prepared for such disasters can reduce the risk and damage caused by these events. In Lao PDR around 60% of the population is under 25 years of age. Risk reduction and climate change activities by children are one way to prepare for disasters. Making young people better prepared when flooding occurs will lower their vulnerability.

Speaking at an event to mark the ASEAN and International Day for Disaster Reduction, the acting UN Resident Coordinator, Tim Schaffter, said, “Young people need to be actively involved in disaster preparedness activities. Educating and involving children and young people on climate change and environmental issues can be one way to prepare for disasters.”

Another aspect of risk reduction is to understand how human behaviour impacts natural disasters. According to Ghulam Sherani, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) specialist for disaster risk management, change behaviour at community and government level is vital in preparing for disaster.

Lao PDR is currently drafting the first National Disaster Management Plan 2012 to 2015 and the UN supported the government in a joint impact assessment following the recent typhoons.

Photo: Bridge destroyed by floods in Xieng Khuang Province, northern Lao PDR Photo Credit: UNHABITAT/Eeva Nyssonnen

It’s rice planting season in Xieng Khouang Province, northern Lao, and for forty-nine year old Vongphone and his wife Bounmee these are nervous times. Five years ago Vongphone’s left hand was blown off when he set off an unexploded cluster bomb whilst farming. Today the land is still littered with unexploded ordnance.

“It’s hard for us because when we farm there is still UXO there and I am still afraid of it. I have to farm, otherwise we have no income,” said Vongphone.

From 1964 to 1973 US aircraft dropped more than two million tonnes of ordnance on Lao PDR. This included 277 million cluster sub-munitions, 30 percent of which failed to detonate, according to government statistics.

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Watch a film about the impact of UXO on Lao PDR

 

At a meeting in Vientiane the Government of Lao PDR reaffirmed their support to the Governance and Public Administration Reform (GPAR) Programme to strengthen human resource development and improve governance and management systems. This was backed up with a Government commitment of $8 million to the estimated $44 million cost of the new programme, 2012-2015.Government representatives called on development partners to align their support to Lao PDR with the new national GPAR Programme.

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Read a story about how GPAR benefits people's lives in Lao PDR

A Lao Government delegation is in New York this week to attend the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS from 8-10 June. The Minister of Health, Dr Dalaloy Ponmek, heads the Lao representatives who join the President of the UN General Assembly, Joseph Deiss, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 30 Heads of State, and representatives from international organizations, civil society and people living with HIV at the meeting.

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic and 10 years since the historic UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the world comes together to review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response. World leaders are expected to negotiate a new global declaration on AIDS and to commit to overcoming the remaining barriers to ensure ‘Universal Access’ to HIV services.

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Photo: UNAIDS Coordinator, Pascal Stenier and Dr Dalaloy Ponmek, Minister of Health

Courtesy of Ministry of Health Lao PDR

Lao PDR's forests play a vital role in contributing to economic development, supporting the livelihoods of the people and in providing environmental services. But forest cover has declined from about 70% a few decades ago to around 40%. Forest quality has also deteriorated, with dense forest decreasing from 29% in 1992 to 8.2% in 2005. UNDP in Lao PDR is supporting the Government to achieve its goal of increasing forest coverage back to 70% by 2020 and improving the quality of existing forested areas.

Read UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's message