More than 87.3 million USD to overcome the disaster of Mekong River

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has decided to support 87.39 million USD for Laos and Vietnam to upgrade their infrastructure and enhance forecasting to improve readiness to cope. with droughts and floods in the Greater Mekong sub-region.

In addition to upgrading or constructing canals, drainage pumping stations and dykes in Vientiane, Laos and Dong Thap and Tien Giang provinces in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, the support package will also be used. used to collect data, information and knowledge to prepare for national drought and flood forecasting in the two countries.

The Mekong River flows through Laos.

Accordingly, a National Center for early warning will be established in Laos. Design standards for drought and flood mitigation measures in the Mekong Delta region will also be developed and cross-country flood management options will be investigated.

In addition to the positive effects of silt addition of the Mekong River to flooded areas, the consequences of floods can cause an average loss of up to 70 million USD per year.

In addition, the direct impact of drought in the Lower Mekong region is very large, causing serious damage to rice production, animal husbandry and fisheries; In 2004-2005, an estimated loss of about 43 million USD was made for the Mekong Delta region and also caused a local food shortage.

Ms. Su Chin Teoh, a natural resource expert with ADB's Southeast Asia Department, said: 'Floods and droughts in the Lower Mekong Basin may have a major impact on agriculture, supply. food and infrastructure. However, to reduce the risk, it is not only necessary to build infrastructure but also to equip the community with skills for planning, predicting and preparing for climate change ".