Walking Event Held to Promote Community Participation in Comprehensive Post-Disaster Recovery.

(KPL): The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare organized a community walk on November 16, 2024, at That Luang Lake to commemorate ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (ADDM) and International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR). Both days fall on Oct 13. According to Lao News Agency, the event was held under the theme "Promoting Community Participation in Comprehensive and Sustainable Post-Disaster Recovery" and was attended by notable figures, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath, who serves as President of the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC), Minister of Labor and Social Welfare and Standing Vice President of the NDMC Baikham Khatthiya, Deputy Mayor of Vientiane Phouvong Vongkhamxao, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos, and representatives from relevant sectors and the general public. Mr. Vongkham Phanthanouvong, Director General of the Department of Social Welfare and a member of the Secretariat of the NDMC, stated that the theme of this year's walk aligns with the motto for ASEAN Day for Disaster Management and International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2024. Laos observes October 13 as the national day for disaster management, aligning with many other countries globally. Annual ceremonies are held during October to mark ADDM, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Laos' National Disaster Management Day. Over recent years, the frequency and severity of natural disasters have increased globally due to climate change. In Laos, disasters such as floods have affected several provinces annually, including in 2024, causing widespread impacts on communities and economies. This underscores the necessity for proactive and coordinated disaster preparedness and recovery efforts at both the national and international levels. The event underscored the importance of fostering collaboration among communities, stakeholders, and policymakers to ensure sustainable disaster recovery strategies, ultimately aiming to build a more resilient society.