Over 1,000 families have been affected by flooding in the Bolikhamsai province of Laos since 02 August, 2015.
Houses and crops have been destroyed. According to world Vision, the flooding began on Sunday evening, 2 August 2015, after several days of heavy rain. An estimated 10 villages have been affected – with 1,238 households in the flooded area.
World Vision reported that “no human casualties have been reported although many have abandoned their homes, and many households are totally submerged. Families are seeking shelter in schools and district government offices, where they are waiting out the flood”.
To respond, World Vision has partnered with the district government authority to distribute canned fish, noodles, and clean water.
More rain has continued since 02 August, and more rain is predicted in the days to come. Boun Neua district in Phongsaly Province in northern Laos saw over 50 mm of rain fall in the last 24 hours. Areas of neighbouring northern Thailand have also seen heavy rain and flooding.
According to ASEAN’s AHA Centre, flooding has also been reported in Houphan, Khammoune and Luangnamtha provinces, as well as Bolikhamsai. Over 45,000 people are currently affected by flooding in Laos. No deaths have been reported, although AHA say that 113 houses have been damaged.
World Vision is concerned about flooding that has destroyed many rice fields and livestock in Bolikhamsai, although exact numbers are not available. Many families in this region live on subsistence farming and loss of agricultural crops or livestock can push already-impoverished families further into poverty and affect household food security.
Find out more about the work of World Vision in Laos here.
