Officials step up efforts to tackle natural disasters
Appropriate measures to mitigate losses caused by natural disasters are needed and under discussion by key sectors after more frequent and damaging incidents in recent years.
Officials from the relevant government sectors and representatives from some non-government organisations met on Friday in Vientiane to discuss appropriate management measures to cope with such events.
In the context of seeking solutions, outcome measures will be incorporated into socio-economic development plans at central and local levels, said a representative of the National Disaster Management Office, Mr Pasith Detphommathed, who co-chaired the meeting.
Preparedness before disasters strike and immediate rescue efforts after the event were essential to mitigate losses from flooding, even though disasters could not be prevented altogether.
“This meeting will create understanding of disasters to encourage all sectors, both at central and local levels, to incorporate measures in their socio-economic development plans,” he said.
The meeting was entitled “National Forum on Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction into National and Local Development Planning Process in the Lao PDR”.
A pilot national disaster management project has been introduced in some provinces in collaboration with international organisations, including Savannakhet and Khammuan, and is aimed at raising the awareness of officials and people so they can make preparations.
Mr Pasith, who is also Director General of the Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, said such projects are expected to be introduced in all provinces across the country.
Officials said some local authorities and people were still unaware of the risks involved in natural disasters.
For instance, the relevant sectors had been informed that tropical storm Kesana was heading for Laos, but local authorities and people did not expect the storm to be so severe because they had not experienced anything of that nature for several decades. This meant they did not take the warnings seriously and did not prepare properly.
Officials said Laos is one of many countries experiencing more frequent disasters due to global warming and climate change resulting from human activities.
Natural disasters this year, including typhoons Ketsana and Parma and several earthquakes, have killed more than 1,000 people in the five Asean countries of Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Laos.
This year, Laos has experienced three tropical storms – Ketsana, Parma and Mirinae. Ketsana led to the deaths of 28 people and caused widespread damage to property.
“However, our advance alerts helped to minimise the loss of life and property. If we hadn’t issued advance warnings, more people might have been killed than actually were,” Mr Pasith said.
By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
December 07, 2009
Vientiane Times
