The
Lao government will seek more funding from both domestic and foreign sources to
restore flood-affected areas and return victims' lives to normal, government
spokesperson Bounpheng Mounphosay said.
Bounpheng was speaking at a press conference
in Vientiane on Friday to report on the outcome of the government's October
20-21 meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and
attended by cabinet members.
The government has set a figure of 600 billion
kip (US$75 million) as necessary for essential rebuilding in the aftermath of
the flooding triggered by tropical storms Haima in June and Nock-Ten in July.
The money will be used to repair irrigation
systems for the upcoming dry season, as well as schools, hospitals, roads and
other necessities.
However, the government has been able to
provide only 100 billion kip (U$12.5 million), which represents just 16.6 per
cent of the total funding it now seeks for restoration projects.
The estimated cost of irrigation repairs is
170 billion kip (U$21 million) but the government can provide only 30 billion
kip (US$3.75 million) due to financial constraints. The 30 billion kip will be
used to repair irrigation systems needed for dry season crops and to buy animal
vaccines, rice seeds and pesticides.
Bounpheng said the government would task local
authorities with doing their best to source additional funding to mitigate the
impact of the flooding. "Meanwhile, the government will seek more funding
from various sources, including from all levels of society, to help affected
villagers," she said.
Laos still needs much more funding to restore
affected areas after severe floods this year killed 30 people and caused about
1.764 trillion kip (US$220.9 million) in damage.
The flooding devastated important
infrastructure including roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, tourist sites, and
electricity and water installations.
Despite economic growth of 8 per cent, one of
the major concerns in Laos over the next year will be food security because of
the magnitude of agricultural losses from the flooding.
Experts say that if local authorities do not
have enough money to repair irrigation systems for dry season cultivation, food
security in Laos could decline as more than 64,400 hectares of farmland were
inundated.
Because the flooding in Thailand, Vietnam and
Cambodia could also impact Laos and cause fluctuations in food prices, the
government has urged the relevant sectors to monitor the situation closely so
they can address any changes.
The government has also directed the relevant
agencies to collect information and formulate long-term plans to deal with the
possible impact of future flooding.
The long-term plans will include building
embankments and relocating schools, hospitals and villages in areas where flooding
frequently occurs. The government also plans to focus more on forest
preservation to protect the environment and prevent soil erosion.
News Desk
Vientiane Times
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment