Disaster Management Reference Handbook – Lao PDR (May 2024) – Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the)

Executive Summary

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, with the majority of the population comprised of ethnic Lao people alongside many other minority groups who reside predominantly in the foothills and mountains. While Lao PDR still faces relatively high poverty rates, it has made incredible strides in poverty reduction since the socialist state instituted economic liberalization policies in the mid-1980s. The percentage of the population living in poverty declined from 46% in 1993 to 18% in 2019. The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused a severe economic setback, but the gross national income is almost back to pre-pandemic levels as of early 2024.

Natural Hazards and Disaster Management

• Flooding is the most commonly occurring disaster in Lao PDR, affecting the most people. It has become more frequent and intense due to climate change and damming rivers for hydropower.
• Droughts have become more intense in recent years, particularly during El Niño years.
• Earthquakes, landslides, tropical storms, and unexploded ordnance (UXO) also pose risks to the country.
• After the 2018 dam collapse, Lao PDR developed its first national disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy and adopted a new disaster management law in 2019.
• The importance of early warning systems and enhanced disaster management structure were emphasized.
• International relief and development organizations, as well as local organizations, support government efforts in disaster management and provide assistance to vulnerable populations.

Climate Change and Vulnerability

• Lao PDR is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with projected increased extreme heat and flooding risks.
• Rising temperatures will worsen human health, ecosystems, and agricultural livelihoods.
• Increased urbanization, especially unplanned settlements, will make people more vulnerable to extreme heat.
• People living in poverty are particularly vulnerable to climate-related hazards, which may be exacerbated by climate change.

Economic Development and Sustainable Goals

Lao PDR is pursuing economic growth while managing disaster and climate risks. The country has implemented several key strategies:

1. Transforming from “landlocked” to “land-linked” through multi-billion-dollar railway and electrical lines.
2. Becoming the “battery of Southeast Asia” by generating electricity through hydropower and exporting it to neighboring countries.

While there are concerns about ecological impacts and displaced villagers due to damming, hydropower plays a crucial role in the country’s economic development.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses poverty reduction efforts, natural hazards, climate change impacts, and economic development strategies, which are all connected to these SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere.
• SDG 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• SDG 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
• SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

These targets reflect the specific areas of focus mentioned in the article, such as poverty reduction, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and partnerships for development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 1.1.1: Proportion of population below the international poverty line, by sex, age, employment status, and geographical location.
• Indicator 11.5.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index.
• Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.

These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets by providing quantitative data on poverty rates, disaster impacts, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and partnership investments.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: reliefweb.int

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