Emergency
responding in times of crises
Responding to disasters and providing relief to communities is a powerful part of the work that ADRA does. ADRA’s global presence and ability to preposition emergency resources allows us to respond immediately.
Funds, materials, and personnel are coordinated through local ADRA offices such as ADRA Laos in order to put plans into action and direct relief supplies to the areas hardest hit.
ADRA Laos has responded to flooding and COVID emergencies in Attapeu, Champassak, Vientiane, and Xiengkhouang provinces through distributing and conducting community awareness on risk communication materials, procuring and distributing PPE materials, rice/food and non-perishable kits, constructing latrines and wash rooms in evacuation centres, and facilitating food for work programs.
The world is full of injustice and often individuals are marginalised by society. Wars uproot children and families, leaving them without homes, jobs, or even a country. People with disability are often ignored or treated with contempt simply because they are different.
ADRA breaks down barriers of prejudice through community behaviour training and by promoting inclusive policies. We reach out to vulnerable communities around the world, helping them gain the strength to put their lives back together. ADRA helps this vulnerable segment of society by providing emergency supplies, support, and education opportunities for refugee and internally displaced children.
CURRENT PROJECTS
PARTNERS: Canadian Foodgrains Bank, ADRA Canada, ADRA Denmark, ADRA International, ADRA Asia Regional Office, SAUM, Xienkghuang Provincial Health Department, Phoukoud District Health Office
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak began in Wuhan Province, China when 44 patients were reported to show symptoms of an unknown disease in December 2019. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic.
ADRA Laos was an initial responder in Xiengkhouang Province, supporting our government partners to capacity build frontline health workers and the procurement of essential PPEs and supplies. ADRA Laos COVID-19 response is aligned with ADRA’s Global COVID-19 response framework and our local response has been in collaboration and coordination with the Laos National Health Partners Cluster Group, Xiengkhouang Provincial COVID-19 Task Force, and local provincial and district government partners to assess and support essential needs, including:
• Procurement of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for provincial and district hospitals, health centres, checkpoints, and quarantine sites
• Supporting Phoukoud District to monitor and provide surveillance of COVID-19 cases
• Printing and distributing risk communication materials to health centres and villages
• Capacity building 104 district health workers in COVID-19 risk communication awareness training and rolling out preventative and risk communication sessions in 104 villages.
ADRA Laos will, as funds become available:
• Continue to strengthen and support Provincial and District health partners to prevent, monitor and recover from COVID-19
• Support handwashing stations in public and community spaces
• Continue to promote handwashing and hygiene in Xiengkhouang Province villages
• Support vulnerable households that have lost livelihoods and are now facing food insecurity and loss of income due to the nationwide lockdown
CLOSED PROJECTS
PARTNERS: ADRA International, ADRA Asia Regional Office, South-East Asia Union Mission, the local SDA church, Health Poverty Action, GoL ADRA Australia and SFE
LOCATION: Sanamxay District, Attapeu Province
During July to October 2018 Lao PDR suffered extensive flooding due to heavy rainfall. From July 18-19 tropical storm Son Tinh caused widespread flooding in 10 of 18 provinces while on July 23, 2018 Saddle Dam D of the Xepien-Xenamnoy Hydropower station collapsed causing flash flooding of 13 villages in Sanamxay District, Attapeu Province. It is estimated that more than 13,000 people were displaced and affected with 39 people losing life. On July 24, 2018 the Government of Lao (GoL) declared the affected areas in “Sanamxay District” as a National Disaster Area and reached out to the international community for support while establishing 11 evacuation and temporary camps.
On 27 July 2018, ADRA Lao PDR requested ADRA International to activate our National Emergency Management Plan (NEMP) after securing the support from the ADRA Asia Regional Office, ADRA Laos Board, and South-East Asia Union Mission (SAUM). ADRA International approved the activation of NEMP for US $15,000 for Intervention Scenario No 2 to distribute Non-Food Items (NFI) kits for 200 households (HH’s) which included soap, towels, lighters, matches, bucket, mosquito net, floor mat, cooking pot, pans, plates, spoon, cups and jug.
A further need was identified by SFE to construct latrines, water facilities, and an incinerator at Pindong Village where two evacuation camps had been established. ADRA Laos thus reached out to the ADRA Network seeking additional funds to support ADRA Lao to continue providing emergency relief to the Sanamxay disaster and ADRA Australia responded favourably
ADRA Laos committed partial funding support to SFE to procure and transport materials for work to be undertaken between August 13 and September 10, 2018 in two camps which services 69 families. We support in
- constructing latrines and wash areas, each equipped with running water to each cubicle, electrical lights and cemented floors
- Construct a new open-well water system including an electrical pump, safe coverage of well, water tower with two 1,000l water tanks and all necessary pipes.
- An incinerator for waste management
- Extend Pindong’s existing water system to the evacuation camp by installing 2 water access points (including to the wash areas).
ADRA Laos is grateful for the financial contribution and support received from ADRA International, ADRA Asia Regional Office, South-East Asia Union Mission, the local SDA church, Health Poverty Action, GoL ADRA Australia and SFE who enabled ADRA Laos to assist the victims in this challenging time.
