(KPL) On 22 December 2025, Laos has reaffirmed its commitment to disaster risk reduction at a national seminar marking National Disaster Management Day, ASEAN Disaster Management Day, and the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The seminar was organised by the Central Disaster Management Committee under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and chaired by Baykham Khattiya, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare and Standing Vice-Chairperson of the committee. Representatives from relevant ministries and partner organisations attended.

Mrs Baykham said the government had made sustained efforts to strengthen disaster risk reduction through legal and institutional reforms. She highlighted the Law on Disaster Management and its supporting regulations, including the National Strategic Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction (2021–2030) and the Decree on the Disaster Management Fund.

She said the measures were designed to integrate disaster risk reduction into all development sectors and ensure dedicated budgets at national, provincial, district and village levels.

According to the minister, the government has also improved the roles and responsibilities of disaster management committees at central and local levels. Capacity-building measures include regular training and seminars, public awareness campaigns, emergency simulation exercises and the development of local disaster risk reduction plans aligned with socio-economic development strategies.

Repeated natural disasters

Despite these efforts, Laos has experienced a series of severe natural disasters in recent years. These include widespread flooding in 2018, most notably the collapse of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Saddle Dam D, followed by major floods in central and southern regions in 2019.

Further flooding struck northern and central areas in 2022 after Storms Mulan and Ma-on, while central and southern provinces were affected again in 2023. In 2024, depression systems, Tropical Storm Prapiroon and Typhoon Yagi caused further damage. In 2025, floods linked to Storms Wutip, Wipha and Bualoi affected multiple areas.

The disasters resulted in significant loss of life, damage to homes and infrastructure, and disruption to the national economy. While emergency response and post-disaster recovery operations were carried out, the minister acknowledged continuing challenges.

She cited limited technical capacity among disaster management personnel, particularly at local levels, as well as budget constraints that restrict access to modern technology, equipment, vehicles and specialised expertise.

Future priorities

Looking ahead, the government plans to strengthen disaster management mechanisms at village, district and provincial levels. It will focus on developing specialised skills among disaster management staff and improving information-sharing systems, particularly early warning systems, to ensure timely alerts for communities.

Disaster risk reduction will continue to be integrated into national development planning under the 9th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021–2025).

Mrs Baykham also reaffirmed Laos’s commitment to international cooperation, including the implementation of global and regional frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response.

KPL