South Korea continues to strengthen food security in Laos

Officials from South Korea and Laos posing for a group photo with rice bags. - Laotian Times

VIENTIANE, Jan 16 (Laotian Times): Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Yung Soo-jung handed over a rice donation to the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Madame Baykham Khatthiya at the Ministry-United Nations World Food Program’s (WFP) warehouse in Vientiane Capital last week.

To support the people of Laos in adjusting to the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the fiscal challenges induced by the global food and fuel crisis, the Republic of Korea continues to donate rice for distribution to the most vulnerable populations.

For the second year in a row, 1,314 tons of rice, worth approximately US$1.26 million, have arrived at the warehouse in Vientiane, to soon benefit more than 100,000 people around the country.

Laos, already challenged by high malnutrition rates, is particularly vulnerable to socio-economic shocks and to the effects of climate change, including floods and droughts, which cause losses of harvests and livelihoods.

The donation will be used to pilot a national emergency rice reserve for improved targeting of vulnerable populations in case of food shortages, as well as to provide emergency rice rations to disadvantaged youths in ethnic boarding schools and schools for persons with disabilities.

“The rice donation from the Republic of Korea will continue to benefit those in remote areas where natural disasters are prone to happen, as well as some of the most disadvantaged young people of our nation. We are grateful for the support from the Republic of Korea, especially at this time when communities feel the burden of rising food, fuel and fertilizer prices,” Minister Mme. Baykham said.

“The Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, has provided emergency rice to countries via the World Food Programme since 2018. Laos is a beneficiary of this support since 2021, and we are very interested to keep strengthening food security with our support, which is in line with our Republic’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and our focus on solidarity between Korea and Asean countries,” said Ambassador Jung.

“We value the expanding relationship we have with the Republic of Korea, which is swiftly becoming one of our most important donors.

"With Korean rice, WFP was able to provide emergency food assistance to help 10,091 people in Xayabouly Province recover from the impacts of the tropical storm Koguma in 2021, and to top up school meals food rations for 84,000 school children, strengthening the Government’s School Meals Programme.

"This year’s rice donation will again be strategically allocated to help the populations most in need around the country,” said WFP Country Director and Representative Jan Delbaere. - Laotian Times