Victims of typhoon Ketsana need more assistance for sustenance

The victims of typhoon Ketsana in the three southern provinces, Saravane, Attapeu, and Sekong, particularly those in 20 villages of Lamam district, Sekong province, had been waiting anxiously for help from the government, international bodies and private sector.

The 20 villages are close to Sekong township, only 30 kilometres away.

The Party and state and other donors had given aid in various forms. But it was not enough to cater to their basic needs. The needed aid include rice, domestic animals, houses and education materials.

According to the head of the disaster relief of Lamam district, Mrs Khamsaeng Phommavongsa, who spoke to a KPL News reporter, the government has collected data on the damage.

The central government and local authorities have distributed basic needs to the victims while rescue teams have saved people who sought refuge on roofs of houses, treetops and the slopes of mountains.

For Lamam district, which was badly affected, the typhoon damaged rice fields, killed domestic animals and destroyed buildings, where the costs of damage have been estimated at 37 billion kip.

Mrs Khamsaeng said that the assistance given by the government and private donors had raised the morale and spirit of the people affected by this disaster.

However, aid must be sustained as the typhoon victims had lost a lot and they were not able yet to sustain themselves.

KPL Lao News Agency
19-11-2009