The Department of Waterways under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport is concentrating on the implementation of the South East Asia Disaster Risk Management Project in Laos.
The project development objective of the proposed South East Asia Disaster Risk Management (SEA DRM) Project shall be funded by the World Bank Group through an International Development Association(IDA) loan in three Southeast Asian countries, namely Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
The main purpose of the project is to reduce the risk of flooding and enhance disaster risk financing capacity within the Lower Mekong Sub-region.
The project will allow the three aforementioned riparian countries to achieve and expand outcomes in three key areas such as flood risk management investments, disaster risk assessment and financing and a contingent emergency response component.
The overall tripartite countries SEA DRM Project objective is to promote and harmonise disaster risk management at the regional level. Each of the three SEA countries have developed a number of sub-projects which will be subject to further assessment and consideration for funding purposes.
The Lao PDR specific SEA DRM Project has the following components, such as urban flood risk management, hydromet modernisation and disaster risk management systems, disaster risk financing and insurance, project management and contingency emergency response.
According to the Lao National Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, this year many provinces around the country were impacted by flooding including Luang Prbang, Xayaboury, Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Xieng Khuang, Huaphan, Bokeo, and Xaysomboun.
However, this project is concentrated on Xay district, Oudomxay province because almost every year Oudomxay suffers from flooding.
On Thursday morning, the Department of Waterways in cooperation with the World Bank Group, organised a second public consultation workshop on the Environmental and Social Management Framework for SEA DRM Project at the ministry’s office in Vientiane.
The meeting was attended by the Director General of the Department of Waterways, Mr. Houngla Sengmuang, representatives from the World Bank Group and other concerned officials.
Mr. Houngla said The purpose of meeting is to discussion and share comments on the work plan for disaster risk management in Laos, especially in Xay district, Oudomxay province.
Almost every year since 2008 until now Xay district sustained impacts from flooding and many people and households suffered losses, he said.
Today, we will discuss and share the comments on four issues such as the preliminary environmental and social assessment in Xay district, environmental and social management framework, ethnic groups engagement framework, resettlement policy frameworks in Xay district, Mr. Houngla said.
Source: Vientiane Times
