2 November 2011
Australia provides assistance for flood recovery in Laos
Australia’s Ambassador to Lao PDR, Lynda Worthaisong, signed agreements today with Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision to provide 8,400million kip to assist communities in Laos to recover from devastating floods caused by tropical storms that hit the country during the recent rainy season.
Speaking at the grant signing ceremony, Ambassador Worthaisong said “Australia’s assistance will help thousands of vulnerable families throughout the country to re-build their livelihoods through the repair of irrigation systems essential for rice production, the provision of seeds to grow staple food crops and livestock.”
Also present at the ceremony were representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Planning and Investment, the UN and international NGOs.
With the Australian funding Save the Children will undertake urgent repairs to irrigation systems in Sayaboury, which will directly help an estimated 5,254 people; World Vision will provide basic relief items, agricultural seeds and/or livestock assisting around 36,020 people in Bolikhamxay, Khammouane, Savannakhet and Champassak; and Oxfam will assist approximately 1,005 people to improve food production by clearing flooded rice fields, constructing and fixing weirs, promoting second rice cropping and re-stocking fish ponds in Vientiane province.
This funding is part of a package of assistance for families affected by flooding across South-East Asia, which was announced by the Australian Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd, on 18 October.
Media contact: Mr Kongthanou Khanthavixay
Public Diplomacy Officer
Australian Embassy, Vientiane
Tel: 353800 ext. 105