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2 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Table of Contents Welcome - Note from the Director 7 About the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance 8 Acknowledgments 9 Country Disaster Response Handbook Series Overview 11 Executive Summary 12 Country Overview 13 Culture 14 Demographics 15 Ethnic Makeup 19 Key Population Centers 19 Vulnerable Groups 20 Environment 22 Borders 22 Geography 23 Climate 23 Disaster Overview 23 Hazards 24 Natural 24 Man-Made 25 Infectious Disease 26 Endemic Conditions 26 Malnutrition 26 Lao PDR Disaster Management Reference Handbook | February 2014 3 HIV/AIDS 27 Deforestation 27 UXO 28 Animal Disease 29 Opium 29 Government 31 Government Structure for Disaster Management 32 Overall Disaster Management Structure 32 Laws, Policies, and Plans on Disaster Management 36 Government Capacity and Capability 38 Early Warning 40 Early Warning Institutional Responsibilities 40 Surveillance and Information Exchange Processes 40 Military Role in Disaster Relief 43 Foreign Assistance 44 Request for International Assistance and Declaration Process 44 Foreign Assistance Logistics 44 Customs 46 Foreign Military and Civil Defence Assets 47 International Assistance through or supported by Laos 48 Infrastructure 49 Airports 50 Seaports 51 Land Routes 51 Roads 52 Bridges 52 Railways 53 Utilities 53 4 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Power 53 Water 55 Health 57 Structure 58 Hospitals 60 Health Access 62 Laboratories 65 Training for Health Professionals 65 Disaster Management Partners in Laos 67 U.S. Agencies 68 International Community 69 Regional Institutions 72 International Financial Institutions 73 Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) 75 Conclusion 83 Appendices 87 Disaster Statistics 88 Disaster Management Laws and Guidelines 89 Department of Defense DMHA Engagements in the Past Five Years (FY09-13) 90 Contact List 94 Force Protection/Pre-Deployment Information 95 Passport/Visa 96 Emergency Contact List 97 Airport Fees 98 Acronyms and Abbreviations 99 HFA Country Progress Report 103 End Notes 105 Lao PDR Disaster Management Reference Handbook | February 2014 5 (World Factbook) 6 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Welcome - Note from the Director C E IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT & HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE January 2, 2014 Dear Reader, The Center for Excellence in Disaster Manage- ment and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DMHA) has a mandate to provide and facilitate education, training, and research in civil-military operations, particularly operations that require international disaster management and humanitarian assistance and operations that require coordination between the Department of Defense and other agencies. In line with that mandate, CFE has conducted research to create reference books on disaster management roles, processes, capabilities and vulnerabilities. This Country Disaster Management Reference for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is designed to provide decision makers, planners and responders a comprehensive understanding of in- country disaster management plans and structures, including information on key domestic disaster response entities, basic country background, and local and international humanitarian organizations present in the country. CFE produces country refer- ence books to provide a commonly available base- line of information regarding disaster management environments. Laos is subject to a variety of disasters including floods, droughts, and landslides, and this reference provides a context for country-specific fac- tors that influence disaster management. This reference book has been compiled by CFE from publicly available sources. It is a working document and will be periodically updated to reflect changes in information. We request your feedback to improve this document and help fill any gaps to enhance its future utility. Please send any feedback or questions to [email protected]. Sincerely, PAMELA K. MILLIGAN Director CFE-DMHA Lao PDR Disaster Management Reference Handbook | February 2014 7 C E IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT & HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE Information about the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Overview Contact Information The Center for Excellence in Disaster Man- Center for Excellence in Disaster Management agement and Humanitarian Assistance is a U.S. and Humanitarian Assistance Department of Defense organization that was 456 Hornet Ave established by U.S. Congress in 1994 and is a JBPHH HI 96860-3503 direct reporting unit to U.S. Pacific Command. Telephone: (808) 472-0518 The Center is located on Ford Island, Joint Base http://www.coe-dmha.org Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The Asia-Pacific region is our priority of effort and collaboration is the cornerstone of our operational practice. CFE-DMHA was founded because of a world- wide need based on lessons learned in complex humanitarian emergencies that took place in the Balkans, the African Great Lakes Region, Soma- lia and the Middle East since the beginning to mid-1980s. The need was for integrated educa- tion, training, certification, operational research, and interagency cooperation and coordination among many agencies and organizations, both civilian and military, to provide relief and re- gional stability. Our Mission Facilitate collaborative partnerships, conduct applied research, and develop education, train- ing, and information sharing programs in order to enhance U.S. and international civil-military preparedness, knowledge, and performance in disaster management and humanitarian assis- tance. Vision Promote excellence in disaster management by connecting people, improving coordination, and building capability. 8 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance U.S. Pacific Command The U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) protects and de- fends, in concert with other U.S. Government agencies, the ter- Acknowledgments ritory of the United States, its people, and its The Center for Excellence in Disaster Man- interests. With allies and partners, USPACOM is agement and Humanitarian Assistance would committed to enhancing stability in the Asia-Pa- like to acknowledge the following partners for cific region by promoting security cooperation, their valuable contributions to this handbook: encouraging peaceful development, respond- ing to contingencies, deterring aggression, and, when necessary, fighting to win. This approach is based on partnership, presence, and military readiness. USPACOM recognizes the global significance of the Asia-Pacific region and understands that challenges are best met together. Consequently, USPACOM will remain an engaged and trusted partner committed to preserving the security, stability, and freedom upon which enduring US Agency for International Development prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region depends. (www.pacom.mil) USAID staff work in more than 100 countries around the world to further America’s foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets while also extending a helping hand to people struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country. (www.usaid.gov) United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OCHA-ROAP) OCHA plays a key role in co- ordinating international humani- tarian preparedness and response in the region. OCHA’s work in Asia and the Pa- cific is focused around four key areas: Emergency preparedness; Emergency Response; Regional partnerships; and, Humanitarian analysis. OCHA in Asia and the Pacific supports 36 countries and 14 territories. It has offices in Nepal, Ban- gladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. It also has regional offices in Fiji and Thailand. (www. unocha.org/roap/) Lao PDR Disaster Management Reference Handbook | February 2014 9 Nagas (serpent deities) adorn the staircase of the west side of Phou Si in the center of Louangphrabang, the former royal capital of Laos. (World Factbook) 10 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance in the country, are also provided. The overall aim Disaster Management is to provide a guide that brings together impor- tant information about disaster management and Reference Handbook response for each country in an effort to provide a basic understanding for the reader. Series Overview Information in the handbooks are compiled and based primarily on trusted, reliable, publicly- The Disaster Management Reference Hand- available sources. Much of the information used book Series is intended to provide decision is from U.S. or other government sources, UN makers, planners, responders and disaster man- sources, NGO websites, scholarly references, agement practitioners with an overview of the foreign government websites, and various media disaster management structure, policies, laws, sources. and plans for each country covered in the series. Whenever further information available may Overviews of natural and man-made threats most be relevant, a link to the original internet source likely to affect the country are discussed. The is provided. Each handbook is a working docu- handbooks also provide basic country back- ment and will be updated periodically as new, ground information, including cultural, demo- significant information becomes available. Con- graphic, geographic, infrastructure and other structive feedback is requested