World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Typhoon Ketsana struck Southern Laos in 2009, causing the most severe floods in the region since 1968. More than 180,000 people were affected by the storm which wiped out more than 28,500 hectares of rice and cash-crops and killed thousands of livestock, and damaged or destroyed houses, schools, roads and bridges.

Despite the destruction caused to infrastructure, WFP started emergency assessments and relief distributions only two days after the storm hit, reaching 40,000 people within the first week, and more than 140,000 people in total.

Many families lost everything in the storm and ensuing floods, and struggled to get back on their feet in the aftermath of the disaster. With harvest and food stocks severely limited, and resources needed to rebuild housed and prepare for the next planting season, thousands of people were unable to cover their food needs well into 2010.

Ketsana struck some of the poorest areas of Lao PDR where people were already very vulnerable to undernutrition. Aggravated by the disaster, rates of acute malnutrition were shown to be at alarming levels in three southern Lao provinces in June 2010.

To alleviate continued food shortages throughout 2010, WFP continued to support 130,000 people until the next wet season harvest in November. The rice provided by WFP enabled farmers to work on their fields and rebuild their livelihoods instead of seeking wage-labour or getting into debt to feed their families.

In 2011, WFP continues to provide specialized nutrition products to moderately malnourished children under five years of age. Their families receive rice rations to encourage their visit to health centres and protect the other family members from becoming malnourished.