LAO PDRI.

Natural hazards in Lao PDR

1.1 Natural hazards likely to affect the country
Drought; Earthquake; Epidemic; Extreme Temperature; Famine; Flood;
Insect Infestation; Slides; Volcano; Wave / Surge; Wild Fires; Wind
Storm;
1.2 Recent major disasters
year
2000
2000
2000
2001
2002

dis_subset
killed total_affected dam (US ‘000s)――
Diarrhoeal/Enteric
44―
Diarrhoeal/Enteric
09685
―
Flood
15450000―
Flood0453000―
Flood
2150000

Source: ”EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database,www.em-dat.net - Université catholique de Louvain - Brussels Belgium"
Ex: Floods of 2002
In the rainy season, agencies whose in charge of gathering information
has closely coordinated with NDMO. National Disaster Management
Office has got the data of weather forecasting from Meteorology andHydrology Department, Mekong River Commission and getting news
from international mass media. While data and information collected,
NDMO will be providing through network agency of provincial disastermanagement coordinator which located along the Mekong River where
prone to flooding. NDMO will be core agency of checking up information
through media for instance: National Television Broadcasting,
Newspaper, National Radio and Provincials located by the side ofMekong River.
Vong Phong typhoon which came from South China Sea made of heavy
rain at up stream reservoir of Mekong River in August 14th, 2002 atHouaysai, Bokeo province. Flooded August 16th, 2002 Mekong flooded
Luangprabang province and August 18th, 2002 water came to Vientiane
and getting higher through tributaries of Mekong River and caused ofwater level at warning point (12,5 m) in Vientiane Municipality and keep
continuing higher, and raining can't drain out that caused water level
get higher and higher. During this period, broadcasting of flood warning
had been made many times and every 30 minutes through Nation andSource: ADRC country reportProvincial Radio and TV to alert people who have been living the hazard
prone areas particularly near by the Mekong River and its tributaries inorder to evacuate and take away of things to safety place in case of water
getting higher to flooding.
Paddy fields, gardens and people's cultivation product were inundated by
Mekong River and Ngum River (Nam Ngum) in urban areas of Vientiane
Municipality. Prime Minister was setting up the ad hoc committee forflood fighting in the year 2002 which presided by Agriculture & Forestry
Minister. Role and function of the ad hoc committee is to collaborate with
the National Disaster Management Committee for flood prevention andfighting in this year. The ad hoc committee for flood fighting met
Vientiane authority officials and districts to make a flood prevention
plan for instance: proof of embankment along Mekong River, set up
teams to monitor water level and water gate and other areas whichembankment are weak by encourage local security guards to collaborate
with district police for watching throughout 24 hours. The ad hoccommittee for flood fighting in year 2002 had delegated its responsibility
to Vientiane Authority Officials and Irrigation Officials to catch up andwatching regularly of flood situation. The inspection Committee was also
set up in order to do daily follow up issues with consists of various
government agencies. Proofing of embankment and water gate had been
carried out under the Agriculture sector to provide mechanic.
Transportation and communication section in charge of sand supplierand Labour & Social Sector was a sand-bag supplier. Mass media is acore point for stimulation of sand-bags and kinds contribution from
NGOs and private sectors and etc... Dried food, rice, pure water andother nutriments are also donated to the flood victims by the Disaster
Management Committee. Boat mobilize force which get collaborated byprivate sectors & village security guards to evacuate people, animals andneeded things in flooded area along river bank. Beside that those force
also mobilized food, pure water and medicines to distribute to flood
victims at temporary sites. At the district and village level wasencouraging the youth forces and volunteers to work on improvingembankment and set up team to give watching through 24 hours.
Chairman and members of flood relief committee distributed relief
packages and medicines to flood victims in 4 districts and Ministry ofAgriculture had distributed organic fertilizers, vegetable, rice and corn
seeds to various villages for replanting after flood.
II.

Disaster Management system

2.1 Administrative system

Conventional long form:
Conventional short form
Government type:

Source: ADRC country report

Lao People's Democratic Republic
LaosCommunist stateCapital:
Administrative divisions:

Vientiane
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural),
1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singularand plural), and 1 special zone** (khetphiset,singular and plural)

2.2 Legal system, legal framework
The Prime Minister’s Decree No. 158 (1999) created the National,Provincial and District Disaster Management Committees (DMCs). It
provided the basis for the development of a disaster management policy.
NDMC Decree No. 097 series of 2000 assigned the roles andresponsibilities of various sectors composing the NDMC.
The National Policy on Disaster Management adopts an all-hazard andpeople-centered approach to disaster risk management. It recognizesthat disaster risk and vulnerability reduction are essential tosustainable development.
2.3 Structure of disaster management
The National Disaster Management Committee is coordinating disasterprevention and protection activities and efforts in the country. Itpromotes disaster reduction activities of existing Line Ministries andProvinces on natural disaster management and protection which consistsof representatives of key ministries, institutions and provinces.
Macro-level disaster management is being carried out by Ministry ofLabour and Social Welfare(LSW) and Science Technology andEnvironment Agency (STEA), while each technical ministry and province
has responsibility over their respective environment relating the disastermanagement in close cooperation with MLSW, STEA; Lao Red
Cross(LRC), the Ministry of Agriculture/Forestry and Ministry of Healthetc.
2.4 Priority on disaster risk management
With recognizing that the managing the risk to disaster and reduction ofvulnerability are essential elements of sustainable development. The
priority for disaster management in Lao PDR is therefore:• To develop a rational Disaster Risk Management Plan will focus on
mobilization, deployment and coordination of National Resources andrequests for international Assistance.
• To prepare Disaster Risk Management Plans at provincial, district
and local level.
Source: ADRC country report••••••To develop and train community level disaster response teams.
To target the initial efforts on the risk management of floods anddroughts.
To focus on Capacity Building of Government officers and personnelof associated agencies from the community level to the national leveland on community mobilization...i.e. motivating and supporting
people to organize and take appropriate action to protect themselves,
their property and their communities against hazards.
To improve disaster preparedness through:o A clear and comprehensive policy, which addresses all elementsof disaster risk management planning.
o Effective disaster planning and linkages at national, provincial,district and local levels as a basis for coordination action withclear allocation of role and responsibilities.
o Operational planning for all concerned government and nongovernment agencies for ensure effective response actions intime of emergencies.
o Effective implementation of specialist programmes.
o Early warning systems for floods and droughts.
o Public awareness and training.
o Support for the development of self-reliance and self-help atcommunity levels.
To focus disaster prevention and mitigation on:o Agricultural and related sector programmes that aim at food,income and water security and on reducing community
vulnerability.
o Protection of key economic facilities.
To improve disaster response and recovery by improving emergency
management systems such as command, control and coordination,
damage and need assessment, relief distribution and "Food for work"
rehabilitation and reconstruct programs.

III.

Disaster management plan

The National Disaster Management Plan for the period 2001-2020 has
been formulated, while provincial disaster management plans are still
under development. Provincial plans are based on the specific hazards inthe locality.
National Strategy Plan on DM is consisted of the works expressing in thegeneral vision to 2020 which is broken down into periods as:• 2001 - 2020
• 2001 - 2010
• 2001 - 2005

Source: ADRC country report

The General Objectives of the National Action Plan on DM to 2020 are:Make Lao society safe and could be able to reduce the negative impacts
of disaster to people lives, economy, state assets and people properties.
• To make sure that people who were affected by disaster have been
assisted on time and quickly recovery.
• Having the regulations with fully insurance welfare.
• Link programme between Disaster Management and other sector
programs.

The goals of the National Action Plan on DM from 2001 to 2010 are:Establish the District Disaster Management Committee in all districts.
• Identify the focal point in all sectors (state and privation).
• Develop and establish early warning and information system in allof 142 districts in country.
• Set up information network in disaster prone villages.
• Construct warehouses for storing the emergency assistancematerials in all provinces and some disaster prone districts.
• Continue public awareness activities with media.
• Widely organizing training on DM for all sectors and levels.
• Organize simulation exercise with the involvement of rescue teamunit in sectors and community.
• Raise capacity up on cooperation with other countries in theframework of Asian, Regional and United Nations to exchange
information and experiences on DM.
IV.

Budget size on national level

V.

Progress and situations of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)

VI.

Projects on disaster reduction headed by Ministry

Lao PDR Urban Disaster Mitigation Project (LUDMP)
Background
The People’s Democratic Republic of Laos (Lao PDR) faces a range ofdisasters including flood, drought, landslides, as well as unexploded
ordinance, fires and other man-made hazards. An analysis of disaster
impacts on urbanizing areas, however, finds that fires and traffic
accidents cause the greatest loss of life and property. Dense building
concentrations, narrow roads, flammable building materials, aging waterand electrical supply systems, and lack of resources to upgrade
preparedness and response have resulted in a growing risk of large scale,multiple structure fires.
The Lao PDR Urban Disaster Mitigation Project (LUDMP) focuses onthese two major hazards (fire and traffic accidents). It generally aims atSource: ADRC country report

incorporating risk management and hazard mitigation into thedevelopment planning of urban areas in Lao PDR, with the city ofVientiane as the pilot demonstration site.
Objectives
The main objective of the LUDMP is to reduce the disaster vulnerabilityof population, infrastructure, and economic assets in Lao urban areas tofires by establishing systems for hazard assessment and disastermitigation to ensure fire and road safety for the city of Vientiane, andother major cities and communities in Lao PDR.
More specifically, the project aims to:• conduct a risk assessment of Vientiane, both at the city andcommunity levels• build capacity for prevention and response within the city’s
emergency service departments• establish a public awareness campaign• improve the regulatory system for fire mitigation
Project Profile•
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Project Title: Lao PDR Urban Disaster Mitigation Project (LUDMP)
Project Location: Vientiane Municipality areasHazard Type: Urban Fires and Road Safety
Project Management: National Disaster Mitigation Office (NDMO)
Project Counterparts: Municipal Disaster Management Committees,Urban Research Institute (URI) and the Fire Department
Project Manager: Mr. Phetsavang Sounnalath, NDMO Director
Project Concept: Ms. Jinx Parker. ADPC Project Design Consultant(Team Leader); Mr. Mark Swiney, Melbourne Fire Brigade (TechnicalAnalysis)
Date of Commencement: 1 July 2002 1VII.

ADRC Counterpart
Director of Department of Social Welfare National DisasterManagement
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
Pangkham.Rd P.O.Box 347 Vientiane

1 http://www.adpc.net/audmp/Lao.html

Source: ADRC country report