Country Risk Reduction Profile: Disaster Risk Reduction in Laos

According to the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Laos experiences small-scale ongoing disasters, affecting over 10% of the population. Recurrent floods and droughts are considered the main natural hazards in addition to fires, landslides, erosion, typhoons, earthquakes and disease epidemics. In Laos, Save the Children has pioneered Child Centred, Child Led and Child Focused DRR, recognizing children as agents of change and encouraging participation of children and communities in the disaster risk reduction measures which aim to improve the lives of children facing disasters. Collectively the programmes have reached over 12,000 children directly and over 35,000 indirectly.