CO-Oxfam in Laos Lao PDR has reported significant growth during the pre-covid 19 periods on the social and economic fronts. The COVID-19 pandemic first emerged as a health crisis but has rapidly evolved into a global crisis, threatening survival – economically, socially,politically and epidemiologically – with grave consequences for human development, economic stability and sustenance. The epidemiological impact of the pandemic on Lao has not been severe; however, it has severely affected the socioeconomic condition of people living in Lao PDR. The breakdown in domestic and regional supply chains, business closures, livelihood disruptions and income losses was overarching challenges which later trickled down to the masses. Almost 500,000 people are estimated to have losttheir jobs, and 383,000 people are expected to fall back into poverty . In addition, food insecurity levels are expected to escalate as COVID-19 compounds an existing food security crisis that has been building up for the past two years. Further, disruptions in education for 1.7 million learners across the country are expected to have long-term ramifications in terms of large-scale learning losses . As of July 29, 2022,Lao PDR reported 211,052 confirmed cases of covid 19 with 757 deaths and a total of 11,753,962 vaccine doses have been administered.
The impact of COVID-19 on the socioeconomic landscape has disproportionately affected women and young girls. Multi-agency researchled by UNFPA and various partners, including Oxfam in Lao, revealed appalling findings on the impact of the pandemic and consequentlockdowns on women's unique health needs and GBV. Violence against women and young girls intensified, especially domestic violence and sexual harassment during the lockdowns. The increase in domesticviolence and sexual harassment have various reasons; however, the core reasons are confined living, restrictions in movement, loss of assets and income, depleting household resources and psychological stress due to uncertainty across the country .
Oxfamin Lao PDR is currently engaged in COVID response across the country. The overall goal of Oxfam in Lao PDR response to COVID-19 is the provision of adequate, inclusive and safe support to poor, vulnerable and marginalized people to (a) prevent and reducethe infection risk of the COVID 19 disease outbreak and (b) to protect them from the negative impacts of lockdown and emergency measures to control and respond to the outbreak. Oxfam is currently in Phase - II, i.e. Early Recovery Assistance of its responseto COVID - 19 on the time when it is best needed. Our Phase II of covid-19 focuses on raising awareness and mobilizing people through established community-based self-help groups to take preventative measures to stop the spread of covid 19. We have adopted an integrated approach by mainstreaming gender in our early response to ensure that women will leadthe community-led campaigns and develop messages that help them stop the triple threat, i.e. violence, harassment and covid-19. So far, Oxfam has reachedto 8,100 members of the community in our covid-19 interventions, of which 60% were women and young girls. We are currently rendering services in 7 provinces of Lao PDR.