KOICA Delivers COVID-19 Prevention Supplies to Victims of Laos Dam Collapse

Support Provided to Over 1,000 Disaster Victims' Households and Local Hospitals with Masks, Thermometers, and More

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) has stepped up to support disaster victims affected by the 2018 Laos dam collapse in overcoming the COVID-19 crisis.

On the 29th (local time), KOICA held a 'COVID-19 Response Supplies Donation Ceremony' at the Sanamsay County Office in Attapeu Province, southeastern Laos, and announced on the 30th that it delivered COVID-19 prevention supplies such as masks, thermometers, and soap in eco-bags to about 1,000 disaster-affected households to ensure that vulnerable groups affected by the dam collapse are not left behind amid changes and responses to COVID-19.

On the same day, masks, alcohol, sanitizers, thermometers, and other supplies were also provided to four provincial and county hospitals and 32 health centers in Attapeu Province.

Since last year, KOICA has been implementing the 'Integrated Program to Strengthen Climate Change Response Resilience and Self-Reliance Capacity in Attapeu Province, Laos' to restore and rebuild the damage caused by the dam accident and floods in Attapeu Province, and to strengthen the response capacity of the Laos government and residents regarding climate change in the mid to long term, aiming to create a better environment than before the disaster. The COVID-19 response support for vulnerable groups was also carried out in connection with this project.

In addition to providing supplies, KOICA will focus on COVID-19 infection prevention activities in the same area for three days from the 29th to July 1st. Village broadcasts will be aired to inform about COVID-19 symptoms and personal prevention rules, and posters explaining handwashing methods, mask-wearing, and COVID-19 prevention guidelines will be posted at important locations within the village such as temporary residences, schools, hospitals, and government/public institutions.

Furthermore, in cooperation with the local health bureau, body temperature checks will be conducted for local residents, enabling the provincial health bureau to manage symptomatic individuals, and COVID-19 prevention supplies delivery and education will be carried out together.

Meanwhile, the donation ceremony was attended by Shin Sung-soon, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos; Oh Sung-soo, Director of KOICA Laos Office; and Kampeng Saysompheng, Minister of the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare of Laos.

Minister Kampeng of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Laos said, “Through KOICA’s integrated program in Attapeu Province, more than 200 residents of temporary residences have received vocational training, and support in areas such as vocational training, agricultural income increase, health capacity building, and child protection has greatly helped residents achieve self-reliance in their livelihoods,” adding, “We express our gratitude to KOICA and the Korean government for carrying out international development cooperation that embraces vulnerable groups.”