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• Laos flooding

Laos flooding

Typhoon Ketsana hit southern Laos in September 2009, causing widespread flooding, strong winds and flash flooding causing the most severe damage in Lao PDR in living memory.

Oxfam has been working with CARE, WFP (World Food Programme) and the Government of Lao to assess affected areas. Around 10,000 families were forced to leave their homes, and in the Sekong, Saravane and Attapeu provinces. Flood waters also destroyed up to 90% of crop lands causing a major loss of harvest and livestock.

The threat of water-borne disease, due to lack of water and sanitation facilities, is high. As is the risk of vector-borne disease with families sleeping in the open with no bed nets, and the stagnant water a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Oxfam is there

Oxfam is helping 1,300 families comprising the worst affected and most vulnerable by providing:

• Education and access to safe water supplies, adequate sanitation, hygiene, and vector control in order to stop the potential spread of disease – families received one hygiene kit, three 20-litre buckets with lids, water purification tablets, and two long-lasting, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, as well as access to a well
• Emergency food supplies (including rice, canned fish, salt and sugar) while also helping to rebuild peoples’ livelihoods – families will be supported to rebuild their means of earning (agricultural, technical support, and access to small-scale funding).
• Emergency housing (semi-permanent) appropriate shelter as well as sleeping mats, cooking utensils and clothing to restore dignified living conditions
• Blankets and jackets for the most vulnerable – women, children and the elderly – to protect against the colder weather

You can help

Thanks to our generous supporters, we've now closed our Asia-Pacific Disaster Appeal. However, you can help us respond to future emergencies, by becoming an Emergency 365 regular donor.

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