Participants engaging in a group exercise to develop the objectives of the national DRR strategy.

By Omar Hussein Amach

VIENTIANE, 8 August 2019 – As the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic continues its recovery from the floods of 2018, it is seeking to lessen the risk of future disasters. To accomplish this, the Lao Government and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction jointly organized a national workshop that brought together development partners and government agencies to lay the foundation for the country’s first national disaster risk reduction strategy.

The need for a national disaster risk reduction strategy was made clear nearly a year ago when Laos experienced its worst flooding in decades as a result of the collapse of the dam at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy hydropower project following heavy rains. The floods inundated 12 villages, killing at least 90 people, and left thousands displaced.

“The Party and the Government have recognized and are trying to address the risks of climate change and the effects of natural and man-made disasters that have damaged people’s lives and assets economically, socially and environmentally,” said Dr Khampheng Saysompheng, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare and Chairman of the National Disaster Prevention and Control Committee. “The development of an Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction is a government priority for planning, investment in socio-economic development, implementation of rural development strategies, and poverty reduction,” he added.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, which has the lead for disaster planning, invited participants from across the government, in addition to international and civic organizations, to support the strategy development effort. This multi-sectoral approach is critical to supporting the implementation of the strategy and ensuring that risk-informed development is embedded in the plans and budgets of line ministries and local governments.