Emergency Aid to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for the Typhoon Disaster

October 14, 2009
Japanese

The Government of Japan has decided to extend emergency assistance in kind (blankets, water purifiers, etc.) equivalent to approximately 10 million yen to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, which has sustained a large-scale typhoon disaster in the country’s southern region from Typhoon Ketsana. Japan has decided to extend this emergency aid from a humanitarian point of view as well as in light of the friendly relations between Japan and Laos, based on the request of the Government of Laos.
This decision follows the Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on October 3, where Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressed his condolences for the typhoon disaster in Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam and his hope for the prompt relief of disaster victims as well as the restoration of areas affected by the disaster.

(Reference 1) Damages caused by Typhoon Ketsana in Laos

Typhoon Ketsana passed through the Philippines on September 29, then landed on the southern region of Laos, resulting in large-scale damages including floods caused by heavy rain.

As of October 9, the damages are as follows (announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos).

Deaths: 11, Estimated affected population: over 91,000, Estimated affected households: over 15,000
Destroyed and damaged houses: 982
Destroyed farmland: over 20,000 hectares
Total damages: 863 billion kip (approximately 9 billion JPY)
Other damages(damages to schools and hospitals, roads, as well as suspension of lifeline utilities)

(Reference 2) Minister Okada’s message of sympathy to the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam.

At the Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on October 3 in Siem Reap, Minister Okada said the following in his opening remarks: “I express my sympathy for the significant damages that Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam have suffered as a result of the typhoon. I also express my deepest condolences for the losses of many lives in the Mekong region and to the families of the victims, and pray for the earliest recovery of the people suffering from the effects of the disaster.”

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