US provides aid to develop community-based flood warnings in Cambodia and Lao PDR
MRC No.18/02
Phnom Penh, 13 December 2002
Communities at high risk of flooding in Cambodia and Lao PDR will soon have access to flood warnings based on satellite data linked to their own local knowledge, with the help of US$1.25 million provided by the USAID Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) towards the Mekong River Commission’s new Flood Management Programme.
The Mekong River Commission broadcasts flood warnings for 21 stations along the mainstream of the Mekong every day during the flood season. The new funding will help people to make use of the warnings.
The aid from USAID/OFDA will be used to prepare “flood-referencing” tools with the help of partner organizations working directly with vulnerable communities in Cambodia and Lao PDR.
“Flood referencing” means working with people at the grassroots to ensure that they know the relationship between flood levels at the mainstream stations that are constantly monitored, and their local situation. Through the partner organizations, vulnerable communities will also be assisted to prepare for floods, in order to minimise loss of life and property.
While the current funding enables work to begin immediately with Cambodian and Lao communities, the Mekong River Commission intends to expand the work to Thailand and Viet Nam as soon as funding becomes available.
The complete Flood Management Programme, launched recently at the Mekong River Commission 9th Council meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on 11-12 November, will cost US$25 million over 6 years. The programme will provide technical and coordination services to the four member countries in the Lower Mekong Basin. Flood forecasting and early warnings to people living in flood-prone areas are among the key outputs of the programme.
The MRC Flood Management Programme is the first to adopt a regional approach to floods with the participation of the four countries on the Lower Mekong. The national governments will provide around $4 million of the programme’s costs, with the remaining funds being sought from international donors.
The new USAID/OFDA commitment marks the first time that the US government has committed aid funding to the Mekong River Commission since its establishment in 1995.
The Mekong River Commission is an intergovernmental body created by the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam for regional cooperation in all fields of sustainable development and management of the river basin and its resources, with a particular focus on water use and quality, fisheries, navigation and flood management.
The Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance is the office within USAID responsible for providing humanitarian assistance in response to international crises and disasters. The USAID/OFDA office for the Asia-Pacific region is in Manila, the Philippines
The funding agreement between USAID/OFDA and the Mekong River Commission will be signed at 9 am on Monday, 16 December at the Secretariat of the Mekong River Commission in Phnom Penh.
The US Charge D’Affaires in Cambodia, Mr Alexander Arvizu, and USAID/OFDA Senior Regional Advisor, Mr Tom Dolan, will sign for the US government. Mr Joern Kristensen, Chief Executive Officer, will sign on behalf of the Mekong River Commission.
Members of the press are cordially invited to attend the signing.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Delia Paul, Communications Officer
Phone: (023)720-979 ext 6322 or (012)807-979.
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