impact of disasters to socio-economic development in Lao PDR

impact of disasters to impact of disasters to socio-economic socio-economic

development in Lao PDRdevelopment in Lao PDRPrepared by PHETSAVANG SOUNNALATH- Prepared by PHETSAVANG SOUNNALATH- Director of NDMO/Lao PDR for Regional Director of NDMO/Lao PDR for Regional

Workshop on Methodologies of Assessment of Workshop on Methodologies of Assessment of Socio-Economic Impacts of Disasters in Asia and Socio-Economic Impacts of Disasters in Asia and

their Application for Poverty Eradication and their Application for Poverty Eradication and Economic Development. Bangkok, 18-20 May Economic Development. Bangkok, 18-20 May

2004. 2004.

contents of paper:contents of paper:

disasters in Laos and its impact.disasters in Laos and its impact. practical issues on assessment of practical issues on assessment of

disasters.disasters. mitigation and recovery of disaster mitigation and recovery of disaster

impact.impact. the ECLAC module of assessment.the ECLAC module of assessment.

country information:country information: population: 5,3 ml (46 population: 5,3 ml (46

ethnic groups) more than ethnic groups) more than 80% practices agriculture 80% practices agriculture depended to rain waterdepended to rain water

16 provinces, 1 special 16 provinces, 1 special region & 1 municipalityregion & 1 municipality

70% of territory is 70% of territory is mountainmountain

climate divides into 2 climate divides into 2 seasons: dry from Oct.-Apr. seasons: dry from Oct.-Apr. rainy from May-Sep.rainy from May-Sep.

GDP per capita is 300 US$GDP per capita is 300 US$ around 40% of population around 40% of population

is still under poverty lineis still under poverty line

disasters in Laos & impactdisasters in Laos & impact

common disasters in Laos are: flood, common disasters in Laos are: flood, drought, landside, bank erosion & fire.drought, landside, bank erosion & fire.

From 1966 to recent, in an average 1,4 From 1966 to recent, in an average 1,4 year country faced with 1 big flood or year country faced with 1 big flood or relatively sever drought.relatively sever drought.

flood flood by upraising of Mekong and it by upraising of Mekong and it distributary’s rivers is occurred almost distributary’s rivers is occurred almost yearly. Some years flashed flood and yearly. Some years flashed flood and landslide were happened in mountainous landslide were happened in mountainous areas of provinces.areas of provinces.


flashed flood & landslideflashed flood & landslide are appeared in are appeared in Laos and effected to population from 10 year Laos and effected to population from 10 year ago to now, it have been seen as ago to now, it have been seen as consequences of some factors: climate consequences of some factors: climate change issue, increase of population, open change issue, increase of population, open more spaces for cultivation, for settlement, more spaces for cultivation, for settlement, for building infrastructures and etc…for building infrastructures and etc…

droughtdrought is happened in all provinces, in is happened in all provinces, in some years flood and drought were occurred some years flood and drought were occurred in different location of one province. in different location of one province.

disasters in Laos & impactdisasters in Laos & impact firefire is divided into two different types: is divided into two different types:

urban fire and city’s fire. In 2003 in hold urban fire and city’s fire. In 2003 in hold country were more than 120 incidents of country were more than 120 incidents of fire. fire.

the the estimateestimate of damages and losses from of damages and losses from disasters when they occurred for some years disasters when they occurred for some years as in 2000, 2001 and 2002 is between 5-as in 2000, 2001 and 2002 is between 5-10% of GDP. Around 10% of population had 10% of GDP. Around 10% of population had been effectedbeen effected

disasters impacts have had to many sectorsdisasters impacts have had to many sectors of society: agriculture, forestry, transport, of society: agriculture, forestry, transport, housing, education, health and others.housing, education, health and others.


for population of Laos with low income, especially for population of Laos with low income, especially

rural rural people when faced disaster they become people when faced disaster they become poorerpoorer. When disasters reoccurred again in short . When disasters reoccurred again in short period of time from previous one, their resources or period of time from previous one, their resources or reserve (small) often had been drained to non.reserve (small) often had been drained to non.

disaster put disaster put effected peopleeffected people in debt, diverted them in debt, diverted them from their main jobs, forced them out from village to from their main jobs, forced them out from village to search additional income, mainly selling labor search additional income, mainly selling labor outside, some time closing national border or going outside, some time closing national border or going to citiesto cities

disaster disaster challenged challenged local and government local and government developmentdevelopment plans plans. Many projects had been . Many projects had been delayed or postponed, big amount of fund had been delayed or postponed, big amount of fund had been relocated, increased government expenditure relocated, increased government expenditure


until now not all of 174 irrigation until now not all of 174 irrigation schemes damaged by flood in 2000 had schemes damaged by flood in 2000 had been repaired, not all reconstruction or been repaired, not all reconstruction or rehabilitation works had been paid, rehabilitation works had been paid, while another damaged once already while another damaged once already came in 2001 & 2002.came in 2001 & 2002.

intensifying relief, mitigation activitiesintensifying relief, mitigation activities recovery and reconstruction became recovery and reconstruction became

more difficult and needed more funding more difficult and needed more funding

Flood in 2000Flood in 2000

Drought in 2003Drought in 2003

Landslide in 2002Landslide in 2002

Accident on roadAccident on road

practical issues on assessment practical issues on assessment of disastersof disasters

for along time, rapid assessment (RA) of for along time, rapid assessment (RA) of disaster impact had been made when disaster impact had been made when disaster occur, the aim is to assess the disaster occur, the aim is to assess the damage and possible losses, identify victims damage and possible losses, identify victims for relief workfor relief work

RA usually made by local social welfare RA usually made by local social welfare authority who job as direct responsible for authority who job as direct responsible for mitigation or by Ad-hoc team which was mitigation or by Ad-hoc team which was organized in place by the district governor.organized in place by the district governor.

RA also made by agriculture officers who RA also made by agriculture officers who work on statistic as flood and drought impact work on statistic as flood and drought impact are more related to agricultureare more related to agriculture


steps for doing assessment: when disaster steps for doing assessment: when disaster occurred in place, local authority (VDPU, occurred in place, local authority (VDPU, DDMC or PDMC) immediately informed to DDMC or PDMC) immediately informed to centrecentre

rapid assessment will do in place by related rapid assessment will do in place by related sectors and then prepare brief situation sectors and then prepare brief situation report with some basic information and report with some basic information and send to higher levelsend to higher level

in doing RA by village’s authority, it was no in doing RA by village’s authority, it was no common format had been used, it coursed common format had been used, it coursed difficult to sum up all needed information at difficult to sum up all needed information at decision making leveldecision making level


confusing often have when disaster strike and confusing often have when disaster strike and growing pressure for confirming of gathered growing pressure for confirming of gathered information. For example: during big flood in information. For example: during big flood in monsoon season of 1996, the information sent to monsoon season of 1996, the information sent to centre from provinces was not enough for making centre from provinces was not enough for making decision and appealing to international decision and appealing to international assistance. The government had request UNDP to assistance. The government had request UNDP to assist on RA. The team complied of experts of assist on RA. The team complied of experts of agencies from Rome came to Laos and made agencies from Rome came to Laos and made assessment. The complete report was made only assessment. The complete report was made only after one month. after one month.

after disaster assessment some times had been after disaster assessment some times had been organized, but it often coursed big delayed.organized, but it often coursed big delayed.

mitigation and recovery of mitigation and recovery of disaster impact.disaster impact.

the information from assessment had been used the information from assessment had been used mainly for making plan for relief, mitigation and mainly for making plan for relief, mitigation and some for recovery and reconstruction, but still not some for recovery and reconstruction, but still not for preparednessfor preparedness

the information had been recorded of disaster the information had been recorded of disaster impact, but not had been professionally analyzed impact, but not had been professionally analyzed impact to every sectors (except agriculture) and impact to every sectors (except agriculture) and to socio-economic development in generalto socio-economic development in general

the information is still not serve as sources for the information is still not serve as sources for making development plans, but it benefit for making development plans, but it benefit for persuading allocation of limited govt. fund for persuading allocation of limited govt. fund for emergencyemergency

the ECLAC module of the ECLAC module of assessmentassessment

ECLAC is a new holistic method of ECLAC is a new holistic method of assessment, it useful for planning assessment, it useful for planning process with considering the process with considering the sustainability of development, for DM it sustainability of development, for DM it has great benefit for enhancing has great benefit for enhancing preparedness capability. preparedness capability.

butbut how to adapt ECLAC to other countries ?how to adapt ECLAC to other countries ? how country will adopt ECLAC ?how country will adopt ECLAC ? Let’s go forward !Let’s go forward !

Thank you for your attention Thank you for your attention !!

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impact of disasters to socio-economic development in Lao PDR