The European Commission has approved aid worth 380,000 ECU for victims of floods in Laos. The aid, channelled via the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will enable Action Internationale Contre la Faim (AICF, France) to carry out an emergency food aid programme over the next five months.

Most of Asia has been hit by floods over the rainy season this year, but Laos was particularly hard hit. After torrential rains, the country endured two typhoons that destroyed the rice crop. Vientiane province bore the brunt of the storms. AICF plans todistribute rations of rice and fish to about 7,000 people there. This emergency food aid should tide people over until the next harvest.

This new allocation will bring to ECU 1.180 million the aid given by ECHO for flood victims of Laos.