VIENTIANE, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Laos' Ministry of Finance is working to develop a national strategy to manage and allocate the state investment budget for restoring infrastructure damaged by natural disasters, in response to the growing impacts of climate change and environmental changes.
Natural disasters such as floods, landslides, epidemics, and earthquakes have increasingly affected Laos in recent years, particularly in the northern and mountainous regions. These events have caused severe damage to lives, property, infrastructure, and the environment, according to the ministry's report on Wednesday.
Lao officials are developing a national strategy as part of the Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Management Project, supported by the World Bank. The strategy focuses on four key areas, including strengthening flood control and infrastructure resilience, enhancing early warning and meteorological systems, improving disaster preparedness, conducting disaster risk assessments and financing, and integrating disaster risk management into government investment planning.
The strategy aims to improve disaster response capabilities, bolster infrastructure resilience, and ensure the effective use of public investment for long-term recovery and climate adaptation. ■
