Dam collapse and flash flooding - Laos

Above: A Lao family receives emergency supplies at an evacuation centre. Image: Save the Children.

In July 2018, the Xepeien-Xenamnoy Hydropower dam in Laos’ Attepeu province collapsed, resulting in flash flooding across 55,000 hectares of land, directly impacting eight villages. The flash floods were then exacerbated by heavy rainfall and tropical storms. The death toll reached 40 and more than 13,000 people were affected with 6,000 people displaced.

Roads and bridges were damaged and some affected areas could only be reached by helicopter. Food and clean water were scarce in the aftermath and temporary camps quickly became crowded. The risk of disease outbreak was high. A total of 13 schools were affected with one school completely destroyed.  

The AHP response

The AHP was activated to coordinate a component of Australia’s humanitarian response to the flash floods. AHP NGO partners CARE, Plan International and Save the Children came together to deliver a coordinated disaster response between September 2018 and August 2019. A more detailed summary of the response can be found here.

Above: Child-friendly spaces are set up in evacuation camps to help children with their recovery, and improve their learning skills through fun activities and games. Image: Plan International.

AHP NGO partners supported early recovery in affected areas, ensuring displaced people in eight evacuation centres had access to food, education and appropriate protection services. Plan International Australia and Save the Children Australia worked with ChildFund to implement education and protection activities. 

AHP partners also assisted with the implementation of the Lao PDR Government’s Back-to-School plan, aimed at reducing disruptions to education for flood-affected students through the repair of schools, construction of temporary learning centres and distribution of student study materials. Save the Children Australia also worked with Lao PDR Government entities, including the District Health Mother and Child Unit and District Health teams to implement health initiatives across flood-affected areas.

The AHP response reached 3,650 displaced people, of whom 58 percent of women and girls and two percent were people with a disability.

Response Highlights

• Over 3,500 people were reached in the response through early recovery, health, education and protection activities. 

• Education was a central focus of the response and AHP partners worked closely with the Lao PDR Government to launch a Back-to-School Plan. As a result, disruptions to education were minimised through the establishment of temporary learning centres and the distribution of student kits, ensuring almost 3,000 children were able to continue their education. 

• AHP partners mitigated the risk of disease outbreaks through targeted health education awareness across five temporary camps and six flood-affected villages, mobilising community volunteers and local authorities in the effort. 

• Five child friendly spaces were constructed within internally displaced persons camps which were accessed by 1,066 people, improving protection of vulnerable groups in the aftermath of the flood. 

• Training of Lao PDR Government officials in a range of essential support services such as child protection, psychosocial support and nutrition contributed to long-term government capacity to protect flood-affected populations. 

Above: Following severe flash floods in Attapue Province, Laos in July 2018, Plan International launched an emergency response to support food-affected children and their families. Plan International worked with local education partners to set up child friendly spaces in evacuation centres and resettlement camps where children took part in play-based learning activities.