Cover and section photo credits Cover Photo: “Pha That Luang” (Great Stupa) by Matthias Hiltner is licensed under CC BY-2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/129978259@N03/16204560295 Credit to www.traveling-shapy.de/ Country Overview Section Photo: “Buddha” (Oudomxai, Laoz) by Akuppa John Wigham is licensed under CC BY-2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/90664717@N00/422479301/in/photolist-DkjnT Disaster Overview Section Photo: “Victoria Wood visits MAG Lao IMG_0764” (Phonsavan, Xieng Khouang Province) by Mine Advisory Group (MAG) is licensed under CC BY-2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mag-photos/4777596988/in/photolist-8hbr8S Organization Structure for DM Section Photo: “The Remnants of Flash Floods” (Xienghone, Laos) by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is licensed under CC BY-2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/10729800303/in/photolist-9peUHc Infrastructure Section Photo: “Laos Village” (Lao PDR) by Stefan Magdalinski is licensed under CC BY-2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/smagdali/11333858053/in/photolist-igwZ8K Health Section Photo: “Laos Press Trip Oct 2008” (Vientiane, Laos) by Cluster Munition Coalition is licensed under CC BY-2.0. https://www.flickr.com/ photos/clustermunitioncoalition/2980914629/in/photolist-5xpY4P Women, Peace and Security Section Photo: “AusAid Lao 2009” (Sekong, Lao PDR) by Department of Foreign Affiars (DFAT) is licensed under CC BY-2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/10672159423/in/photolist-f6RcAw Conclusion Section Photo: “Many Heads” (Bhudda Park, Vientiane, Viangchan, Laos) by Chris Feser is licensed under CC BY-2.0 https://www.flickr.com/ photos/feserc/3413246413/in/photolist-6cBMf6 Appendices Section Photo: “The Sayabury river crossing” (The Sayabury river crossing along the Mekong river in Laos) by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is licensed under CC BY-2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/10729587566/in/album-72157637431498986/ 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 Disaster Management Reference Handbook Series Overview ......................................................9 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................10 Country Overview ..........................................................................................................12 Culture .......................................................................................................................................................13 Demographics .........................................................................................................................................13 Ethnic Makeup .................................................................................................................................13 Key Population Centers ................................................................................................................13 Language ...........................................................................................................................................13 Religion ..............................................................................................................................................13 Vulnerable Groups .........................................................................................................................14 Economics ................................................................................................................................................14 Government .............................................................................................................................................15 Environment ............................................................................................................................................16 Geography ........................................................................................................................................16 Borders ...............................................................................................................................................17 Climate ...............................................................................................................................................17 Climate Change ...............................................................................................................................18 Disaster Overview .........................................................................................................20 Hazards ......................................................................................................................................................20 Floods..................................................................................................................................................20 Drought ..............................................................................................................................................20 Landslides ..........................................................................................................................................21 Lao PDR Disaster Management Reference Handbook | November 2017 3 Recent History of Natural Disasters .................................................................................................21 Country Risks ...........................................................................................................................................22 Country Risk Profile ........................................................................................................................23 Organizational Structure for Disaster Management ..................................................26 Lead Government Agencies in Disaster Response ....................................................................27 Organizations in Lao .............................................................................................................................27 U.S. Government Agencies in Lao ....................................................................................................29 Participation in International Organizations ................................................................................29 Foreign Disaster Relief and Emergency Response .....................................................................30 Laws, Policies, and Plans on Disaster Management ..................................................................30 Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) ................................................................32 Education and Training ........................................................................................................................32 Early Warning Systems (EWS) .....................................................................................................33 Responsible Agencies for Flood and Storm Warning ........................................................33 Armed Forces in Disaster Response ................................................................................................34 Infrastructure .................................................................................................................36 Airports ......................................................................................................................................................36 Land Routes .............................................................................................................................................36 Roads ...................................................................................................................................................36 Railways ..............................................................................................................................................36 Waterways .........................................................................................................................................37 Seaports .............................................................................................................................................37 Schools ......................................................................................................................................................37 Communications ....................................................................................................................................37 Utilities .......................................................................................................................................................37 Power ..................................................................................................................................................37 Water and Sanitation .....................................................................................................................38 4 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Health .............................................................................................................................40