Laos is experiencing the largest floods in 10 years, caused by the sudden collapse of a hydroelectric dam. Health Poverty Action works in Attapeu, the most severely affected province, now declared a National Disaster Area. Flash floods have submerged homes, hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and fields. This will have a devastating long-term impact on peoples' livelihoods and well-being. HPA is one of the few organisations providing emergency and long-term assistance to affected communities.
Laos is experiencing the largest floods in 10 years, caused by the sudden collapse of a hydroelectric dam. Health Poverty Action works in Attapeu, the most severely affected province, now declared a National Disaster Area. Flash floods have submerged homes, hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and fields. According to the latest figures, 16,256 people are affected, with at least 19 people dead and 131 currently missing. Rescue teams continue to search and the number is expected to rise.
The survival of the most vulnerable groups - children, pregnant women, the elderly - is threatened by the outbreak of disease and slow recovery of health services. In the post-disaster phase it is essential to help communities recover from destruction, rebuild their homes and restore their livelihoods. HPA will support affected communities with long-term work to strengthen health systems, manage disease outbreaks, ensure food security, restore livelihoods, and improve access to water/sanitation.
Health Poverty Action has been working with communities in Laos since 1994. We work on long-term programmes to build knowledge and skills that enable people to improve their own health and continue accessing effective health services. Through our response to this emergency we will meet the both short and long-terms needs of the affected communities, ensuring they can recover from this disaster and start to rebuild their futures.
