Government approves of additional 100 billion kip for relieving flood victims

(KPL) The Government made a decision to use its reserve and saving fund worth 100 billion kip to relieve the three worst-hit southern provinces last week.

The worst-hit provinces of Attapeu, Sekong and Saravane, are currently in need of emergency relief aid for the recovery of infrastructure and living conditions in the region. This was an additional fund, which was approved at the cabinet meeting on 7 October.

Of the additional relief aid, 50 billion kip go to Attapeu province, and the rest will be shared equally by Sekong and Saravane provinces.

The fund will be spent on purchasing rice for flood victims till December this year and helping the homeless to build semi-permanent houses with the supply of necessary basics, household utensils, agricultural means and tools.

The homeless are now living in makeshift shelters, schools and military camps. The victims losing their cattle will receive one or two head of cattle.

The small and medium enterprises hit by flood will also receive interest-reduced loans from the Government.
On 29 September 2009, the tropical storm Ketsana hit southern Laos.

Typhoon Ketsana – a severe tropical storm, entered the country from Vietnam then rapidly weakened to a tropical depression before exiting the country into Cambodia. The typhoon swept over Attapeu, Sekong, Saravane, Savannakhet, and Champassak provinces.

Attapeu province was the worst hit, bearing the brunt of the storm, with wind speed of up to 140 km per hour bringing with it torrential rains.

Several villages located along Sekong River in Sekong province and Sedone River in Saravane Province, were washed away.

KPL Lao News Agency
October 19, 2009