The Republic of Korea has donated 1,320 metric tons of rice, worth about USD 1.26 million to the Lao PDR through the World Food Programme.
The handover ceremony was held at the WFP warehouse in Vientiane on Jun 23. The ceremony was attended by Vice Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Padeumphone Sonthany, Korean Ambassador to the Lao PDR Moohong Im, WFP Country Director and Representative Jan Delbaere and relevant officials.
“Already in 2018, the Republic of Korea supported us with rice for distribution in flooded villages. We are thankful that with this support, we will be able to react quicker than before. About 55,000 people – numbers depending on the type and scale of the disaster event – will benefit from Korea’s donation and WFP’s expertise,” said Mr. Padeumphone Sonthany, Vice Minister of Labour and Social Welfare.
“Climate change brings challenges to already poor communities in the Lao PDR. The socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 are further worsening the situation for them. The Republic of Korea aims to strengthen its partnership with countries in the region, including the Lao PDR. The Government of Korea is happy to extend support to the Government of the Lao PDR and its people to ensure everyone has enough to eat even in times of emergency,” said the Korean Ambassador Moohong Im.
“The Republic of Korea is one of WFP’s important partners globally, providing emergency rice to countries since 2018, through its Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This backing has globally helped about 3 million people in distress. Laos is the only Asian country so far receiving this support, since this year – and it is very useful to build a readily available grain reserve, as we are seeing again, with ongoing floods. We are thankful to work with the Lao authorities in ensuring that the rice reaches those who need it most,” said WFP Country Director and Representative Jan Delbaere.
WFP will use one part of the Korean donation as a central rice reserve in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. In case of unforeseeable disasters, rice allocations will be managed by WFP according to requests for assistance from the Government, to ensure they benefit people who most need the support.
Another part of the donation will be used in WFP’s other food security programmes, for example to create community rice reserves in areas that are frequently hit by natural disasters. These reserves will act as stocks in case of emergencies, but also as safety nets during food shortages in the lean season and allow for early response from communities themselves. Villagers can repay the borrowed amount with an agreed interest rate once their harvest is collected.
A shipment of rice donated by the Republic of Korea arrived at the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Vientiane warehouse in early June. Communities struck by crisis in the Lao PDR.
Korean Ambassador Moohong Im and Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Mme. Baykham Khatthiya, confirmed the arrival of the shipment of 74 containers (equalling 33,000 bags filled with 40kg of rice) from Korea at the WFP warehouse.
Source: Lao News Agency