Managed by CARE

Background

Laos is in Southeast Asia and is bordered by Thailand Cambodia, Vietnam, China and Myanmar (Burma). It has a population of approximately 5 million, with ethnic minorities making up around 80% of the poorest regions. The life expectancy in Laos is fifty-three years of age and the under five mortality rate is 105 per 1000 live births (UN Human Development Program, 2002). CARE resumed direct program operations in Laos in 1989 following an earlier 1954-57 emergency program. CARE aims to provide the means for sustainable self-help programs whereby people help themselves through community based projects.

Project Outlook

This project will work with some of the poorest communities in Laos, in remote areas within Phongsaly province in the north of the country. Ninety-four percent of the villages in this province rank amongst the poorest in the country with the two target districts being Khua and Samphan.

CARE is currently working in the project regions of Khua and Sampham to reduce food insecurity by aiding in the construction of infrastructure including drainage channels and irrigation to reduce susceptibility to natural disasters such as floods and drought.

Through this work CARE has identified the immediate needs of the villagers in the region, and through the support of Computershare and its employees CARE will now be able to address these issues.

Phongsaly Province is characterised primarily by steep hills and mountains, with limited access to roads or transport; and most villages can only be reached by walking or using river transport. This in turn affects people’s access to health services, safe water supply and markets. Almost 50% of villages have identified water supply as one of their key problems. Sanitation in villages is also an area of concern with very few people using latrines. Rates of diarrhoea, flu, malaria and women’s reproductive health related complaints are high and local village health workers have received limited training and do not have stores of basic medical supplies to assist with minor ailments.