Returnees at Quarantine Centers in Khammouane and Savannakhet get food and hygiene supplies from the United States.

[ASEAN NOW]

 

 

The United States has contributed over $100,000 in food and sanitary kits to the Provincial Emergency Operations Committees in the provinces of Khammouane and Savannakhet.

The supplies were delivered on September 28 and were supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through Save the Children in Laos. They will be supplied to quarantine stations in the two provinces to assist returning migrants.

 

Laos now has a high occupancy rate in quarantine centers, with roughly 7,500 persons incarcerated, nearly half of them are women. People in quarantine centers will have food, sanitation, and hygiene materials thanks to a contribution from USAID. A reusable mask, soap, hand sanitizer, and other hygiene materials, as well as canned food and drinking water, will be distributed to each participant.

 

Dr. Peter M. Haymond, the US Ambassador to Laos, complimented the Lao government on its successful efforts to protect the public against COVID-19, and highlighted the expanding US-Lao Comprehensive Partnership, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year.

 

Ambassador Haymond commented, "We are proud of this timely donation, which will assist quarantine centers in providing crucial hygiene and food supplies to migrant returnees during this tough period."

 

“The United States will continue to work with Laos to address COVID-19's effects on health, the economy, and education, all of which will assist Laos in recovering from the pandemic.”

 

This is one of numerous donations made by the US to Laos to help offset the effects of COVID-19. The United States has donated about USD 10 million in aid to the Lao government in the fight against COVID-19 from the beginning of the pandemic.

 

As part of US President Biden's attempts to halt the pandemic around the world, the US gave more than one million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to Laos in July 2021.

Prior USAID aid helped Laos train frontline workers, nurses, and doctors, provide medical and laboratory equipment, restore schools safely, and allow children across Lao PDR to continue learning.

 

USAID collaborates closely with the Lao government on a variety of programs aimed at improving health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene, facilitating trade and investment, strengthening the rule of law, mitigating the impact of COVID-19, strengthening the education system, and combating human trafficking in Laos.