Laos to monitor disaster risks

VIENTIANE Ministry of Science and Technology plans to set up a Natural Disaster Warning Centre next year to help reduce risks from climate change.
According to local media reports, deputy minister of science and technology, Houmphan Inthalath, said the project was raised at the 36th Sub-Committee on Meteorology and Geophysics (SCMG) Meeting 1 September.
Senior officials from ASEAN member countries discussed weather forecasting, water, rainfall estimation, and disaster warning systems, the reduction of natural disaster risks, climate change and the enhancement of anti-disaster efforts in ASEAN.
The deputy minister said: “The construction of a Lao Natural Disaster Warning Centre is necessary for ASEAN member countries in terms of meteorology, earthquakes, volcano eruptions and environmental monitoring.”
Natural disaster is one of negative factors that could affect to tourism industry and tourist confidence, he said.
According to UNWTO, ASEAN nations can call on the organisation to assist and implement a risk and crisis management programme to counter the impacts of natural disasters in the region.
Safety and security is one of the subjects that ASEAN has identified for its “tourism standards” and bound into that subject is the need to have a professional crisis management plan.

sourced:ttrweekly.com