VIENTIANE - On July 15th, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare highlighted the relief response underway to assist thousands of families in Northern Laos who lost their 2008 harvest to a major rat infestation, and thanked the donors who made this response possible.

Minister of Labour and Social Welfare H.E. Ms Onechanh Thammavong, German Ambassador H.E. Dr Peter Wienand, Australian Ambassador H.E. Dr Michele Forster, Luxembourg Ambassador H.E. Mr Marc Ungeheuer, ECHO Representative Mr Henry Prankerd, AusAID Representative Ms Raine Dixon, and WFP Deputy Country Director Elisabeth Faure participated in a ceremony to mark the event.

Thanks to the very generous contributions from ECHO, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Luxembourg, WFP was able to start relief operations across Northern Laos in May this year. The funding received will allow WFP to complete food distributions to all affected communities and reach over 130,000 people in total.

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Participants of the ceremony - from left to right: Mr Prasith Detphommatheth, Mr Vanhna Keosanti, HE Mr Bounheuang Douangphachanh, Mr Henry Prankerd, HE Mr Peter Wienand, HE Ms Onechanh Thammavong, Ms Elisabeth Faure, HE Ms Michelle Forster, HE Mr Marc Ungeheuer. (Photo credit: WFP/Cornelia Pätz)