VIENTIANE: Military personnel from Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia convened via video link last week to align plans for an upcoming joint disaster relief exercise.
Hosted by the Lao Ministry of National Defence, the meeting finalised key operational and logistical elements of the trilateral drill.
The Lao delegation was led by Deputy Head of the Training Department, General Staff Department of the Lao People’s Army, Colonel Khamphai Ouanvilay.
The Lao side gave a report on various aspects of the plan, including content, protocol, the operational plan for both the teleconference and the joint disaster relief exercise, and supporting tasks.
These supporting components included communication, security, engineering, medical services, aviation, vehicle technology, the exercise location, accommodation for personnel and soldiers, and other logistical arrangements.
The three delegations raised several important issues for further discussion. The objective of the meeting was to ensure the successful execution of both the conference and the disaster relief exercise, with a focus on effective outcomes.
The overall aim is to strengthen cooperation in joint disaster response by the three armies, enabling a more robust and timely reaction to natural disasters.
The exercise is envisaged as a valuable opportunity to train personnel, share specialised experiences, and broaden knowledge and skills, thereby developing more capable and coordinated disaster response units.
The shared activity will also serve to foster unity, friendship, and mutual understanding.
The disaster exercise is being prepared in anticipation of widespread flooding during the rainy season, as many provinces in Laos are on alert and have issued flood warnings.
The Meteorology and Hydrology Department has urged people living near the Xong River in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province, and the Namxan River in Bolikhan district, Bolikhamxayprovince, to be prepared for floods.
Flooding occurred in Kasy district, Vientiane province, on Wednesday after many hours of heavy rain, but the situation has now reportedly returned to normal. - Vientiane Times/ANN
