Red Cross steps up flood relief in South East Asia
21 September 2000

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies today launched an emergency appeal for more than 870,000 Swiss francs (USD 500,000) to assist seven thousand families who have lost their homes and/or farmland due to heavy flooding in the central and southern provinces of Laos. The relief operation will be carried out by the Lao Red Cross Society with support from Federation relief delegates. It is estimated that the operation will stretch over a three-month period. This brings International Federation emergency appeals for flood victims in Southeast Asia to over 6.7 million Swiss francs – 870,000 Swiss francs for Laos, 3.6 million Swiss francs for Cambodia and 2.4 million Swiss francs for Vietnam.

In Laos, rising water levels of the Mekong River and its tributaries have inundated hundreds of villages along the riverbanks. Water levels have risen beyond the danger levels throughout the affected provinces. The flooding comes at a time when approximately one month remains of the monsoon season and although water levels have been slowly receding since 15 September, possible further heavy rainfall can still worsen the situation. According to authorities, this flooding is the worst in the country since 1978.

A team from the International Federation has assisted the Lao Red Cross in assessing the situation since Friday, 15 September. The Red Cross will now commence an operation to distribute emergency family kits containing food, mosquito nets, blankets and water purification tablets, to seven thousand families among the most vulnerable and worst affected by the floods in four provinces, namely Khammouan, Savannakhet, Salavan and Champasak .

At the same time, the Red Cross Societies in Cambodia and Vietnam, supported by the Federation, are stepping up their relief operations. In Vietnam the water levels in the Mekong Delta are still rising, but there are indications that they may begin to subside by the end of this week. The Vietnam Red Cross and the Federation team have boats on standby for possible evacuations or people and are continuing full-speed with distribution of relief material. Over 150,000 people in the Delta have now been forced to flee their homes and take refuge on dykes and elevated roads.

In Cambodia there are growing fears that the current floods will prove to be the most devastating natural disaster to hit the country in over 30 years. The number of people affected by the prolonged floods in Cambodia now stands at more than 1.6 million, with the largest numbers affected in the provinces of Kampong Cham, Prey Veng and Kandal. The numbers are expected to rise as more information becomes available; in nearly all the affected areas communications systems are marginal at best and the only safe means of transportation is by boat. Over 41,000 families have already been evacuated from their homes in the worst affected provinces in the southeastern part of the country. Over 5,000 Red Cross volunteers are taking part in the relief operation at community level. The Cambodia Red Cross/Federation operation is targeting up to half a million people.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Bangkok: Omar Valdimarsson, regional information delegate,
tel. +66-2-661-6933/+66-1-823-9218
Vientiane: Tony Maryon, Federation team leader,
tel. +62-811-956-377
Vietnam: John Geoghegan, head of delegation,
tel. +84-91-223-425
Cambodia: Seija Tyrninoksa, head of delegation, tel. +85-5-2321-0162 Geneva: Solveig Olafsdottir, information officer,
tel. +41-22-730-4222/+4§ 79 217 3372

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.