LAOS ATTAPEU FLOOD (6-12 AUG)

Background On 23 July 2018, heavy rains breached the walls of Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy (PNPC) hydroelectric power station dam releasing a torrential surge of water downstream resulting in widespread damages. At least 34 were killed, more than 1,126 persons missing and 6,600 others were affected by the catastrophic flood waters. Our local contact Mr Onchan from Savanankhet has done the first assessment on 30 July in areas around Sanamxai, Attapeu. In total, there are 15 villages are affected. CREST has mobilised 4 volunteers to join the distribution of essential items on the trip from 4 to 12 August.

Objectives of the Trip 1) To create a logistics plan to enter the affected areas. 2) Join distribution with our local partners. 3) Conduct assessment for income generation programs.

Team Members Leader – CK Cheong (CREST) Treasurer – Liu Chong Mei (China) Travel log – Du Ting Ting (China) Photographer – Jennifer Lee

Travel Events

Date Event

Activities

1. Distribution at IDP Center, Sanamxai, Attapeu (N 14° 41.139', E 106° 34.764') & Oudomxai Village, Sanamxai, Attapeu.

• 200 packs x 1kg sticky rice

• 160 packs x blankets

• 400 packs x hygiene kit (soap, tooth paste, tooth brush, shampoo)

• 350 packs x family clothing (adult female, male and children total of 10 pieces)

2. Assessment with the local survivals, Sanamxai District, Attapue. Overall in Sanamxai district, the essential items are provided.

There is enough food, water, shelter and medical care. According to our local assessment, there is no dengue or malaria outbreak. The villagers in IDP center are traveling back and forth into their destroyed home to salvage whatever is useable. Most of them brought nothing except the clothes on their backs during the emergency evacuation.

Majority of the relief teams are coming in from Thailand. In the command center, we met teams from Shenzhen, China and Hong Kong, China. At ground zero, we are offered a ride by the Singapore Civil Defence Team which is conducting search & rescue in the area where missing persons were reported.

2.1 Name: Mr. Kee, married with 2 children (first row center, wife second from left) Village: Domdoo, 200 Households

Before: Mr. Kee is a farmer and plants rice and keeps cows, chickens, ducks and pigs.

During: 22 July, 10pm. Kee’s family was asleep. The leader of the village was shouting to tell all villagers to evacuate due to the coming flood water from the hydro dam. Within 2-3 minutes, the water rose from waist level to the chin. Mr. Kee’s wife managed to grab a packet of rice and swam to the nearest rooftop for safety. 6am, they were rescued by the local army.

After: Mr. Kee’s house was completely damaged except for the roof. All the rice fields were also fully damaged and livestock lost. He has skills in carpentry and wished to able to make something from wood to sell when he returns home.

2.2 Name: Madam Pin, single mother (first from left) with 2 children and mother (third from left)

Village: Domdoo, 200 Households

Before: She is a farmer and plants rice and keeps livestock of cows, chicken, ducks and pigs.

During: 22 July, 10pm she and her family were asleep. The leader of the village was shouting to tell all the villagers to evacuate due to the coming flood water from the hydro dam. Within 2-3 minutes, water had risen from the waist level to the chin. At about 3am, her family was rescued by the local community by boat.

After: Her house is not totally destroyed. She has no plans for the future.

2.3 Name: Mr. Ko, married with 1 son and 2 daughters Village: Thahintai, 250 Household

Before: He owns his land and plants rice and sticky rice and keeps livestock of cows, buffalos, chicken, ducks and pigs. He has an annual income of 18,000,000 kip

After: His house, farm and land within the whole village is totally destroyed. The government has planned to relocate the whole village. However, each family has to pay 500,000 kip (USD 60) to cover part of the cost of rebuilding by the local government.

3. Other Activities

Recommendations

1. Logistics - next team of volunteers may consider traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, Bangkok to Pakse. From Pakse take ground transport to Attepue. We recommend to stay and use Duc Loc Motel (N 14° 48.340', E 106° 50.128') as our meeting point with local partners instead of travel to Savannakhet.

2. Back-to-Work Program – rice is controlled by government, the only support we can consider giving is a set of tools for farming. A full set of tools contain:

1. Spade – 30,000 kip

2. Shovel – 25,000 kip

3. Knife – 30,000 kip

4. Rake – 30,000 kip

5. Hoe – 50,000 kip

6. Sickle – 30,000 kip

7. Water Boot – 35,000 kip

3. Livelihood support – Animal husbandry

1. 3 months chicken – 30,000 kip – market selling at 30,000 kip / kg

2. 3 months duck – 30,000 kip – market selling at 30,000 kip / kg

3. 100 x fish fries (tilapia) – 25,000 kip – market selling at 20,000 kip / kg

4. 1 pair of 3-4 month old goats – 1,000,000 kip – market selling at 100,000 kip / kg

5. 1 x mother cow – 3,000,000 kip – market selling at 65,000 kip / kg

4. Community project – fish farming. We have highlighted to Mr Onchan about the possibility of community project for fish farming. The challenges are local culture and the acceptance of the idea of working together as community and profit sharing.

Appendix

Submitted by CK Cheong

13 August 2018