Vientiane, October 22, 2024 – The European Union, in collaboration with World Vision, organized the kick-off ceremony for the Laos Yagi Flood Relief Response Cooperation, hosted by the Ministry of Labour and social Welfare.
Mr. Mark Gallagher, Ambassador of the European Union to the Lao PDR, together with World Vision’s National Director, Ms. Edelweiss Silan, handed over relief items, including treated mosquito nets, blankets, tarpaulins, hygiene and kitchen kits to support over 1,000 vulnerable families in communities affected by Typhoon Yagi in the Hadsayfong and Sikhotabong districts of Vientiane Capital.
In September, Lao PDR experienced heavy torrential rain by Typhoon Yagi, resulting in widespread flooding, flash floods, and landslides that devastated communities across the country. The Mekong River and its tributaries saw significant water level rises due to the combined effects of the typhoons, seasonal rains, and water releases from hydroelectric dams. According to the latest data from the UN Disaster Risk Reduction and Response (UNDRRR) and the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, 16 provinces throughout Lao PDR were affected, with 1,437 villages across 133 districts suffering the consequences of Typhoon Yagi. Since July, approximately 204,500 people have been affected by floods, landslides and storms across Lao PDR.
“Children and the vulnerable families suffer the most when disaster strikes. With a changing climate and the degradation of our forests and natural environment, many children face disasters that are harsher than in the past. We thank the European Union for supporting the disaster response in Lao PDR. We also thank the local partners for conducting community assessments to identify the beneficiaries and help facilitate distribution,” said Edelweiss Silan, National Director of World Vision International Laos.
The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to the Lao PDR, Mr. Mark Gallagher, said: “The European Union’s commitment to humanitarian action is not just about the resources or the logistics. It is an expression of our solidarity with the people of Laos. Together with our partner, World Vision International, we remain committed to helping those most in need, ensuring that no one is left behind in times of crisis.”
The ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, along with representatives from various government ministries.
Note to the editor:
World Vision has worked with the most vulnerable children and their communities in Lao PDR for almost 40 years. In 2023, together with our partners, we have positively impacted the lives of 77,391 children and their families in Laos, improving their access to nutrition, clean water and sanitation, health services, quality education, and sustainable livelihoods. In the past decade, the agency responded to humanitarian needs and disasters in Laos, including COVID-19 and the Khounkham flooding in 2023 in Khammouane Province, among others.
EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid: The European Union and its Member States are among the world’s leading donors of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by disasters and human-induced crises. Through the Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the European Commission, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.