APPEAL FOR LAOS FLOOD DISASTER

On July 22nd, a dam collapsed in Laos, in the southern province of Attapeu.

Previous heavy tropical monsoons rains were said to have damaged the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam’s structure, which collapsed and released about 175 billion cubic feet of water downstreams. As a result, around a thousand people have been missing and according to the United Nations, 6,600 have been displaced and evacuated.

The muddy waters are creating a treacherous terrain, like quick sands, and people are stranded, unable to walk through the flooded areas, and starving. There is a big shortage of baby food, and many children are being treated with IV drips. It is thought that there are currently between 200 and 500 orphans in different refugee camps. It is not likely there will be reunited with their families. The area has been reported to be targeted by child traffickers.

Some sheltering ‘camps’ are difficult to access, and local aid officials are in touch with the military to delivery relief goods including food.

To add to this predicament, there is a great danger of land mines. Laos is the most heavily bombed country in the global history of warfare, dating back to the neighbouring Vietnam War.

Attapeu province in southern Laos is highly contaminated with unexploded landmines. Sheltering camps have been confirmed as being hazardous. According to the Thompson Reuters Foundation, areas that have been cleared of bombs may need re-clearing, as landmines would have moved with the floods. Combined to that, people who have been evacuated from their homes, may be relocated to places which have not yet been cleared.