Floods and water safety call out right away
PUBLISHED: 19 Sep 2024 at 04: 59
As the area continues to experience more storms, Laos is urging Asean and other partners to work together to address the issue of Mekong River liquid stability and economic concerns.
Speaking at the beginning of the” 2nd Asean-MRC Water Security Dialogue” among Asian member states, Mekong River countries and development partners to discuss ocean safety on Wednesday, Saleumxay Kommasith, Laos ‘ assistant PM and foreign secretary, said the Mekong River is the basis of people’s livelihoods in island Southeast Asia.
It is the source of food manufacturing, electricity generation and tenacious trade and commerce.
He claimed that the Mekong River, which provides 2.6 million tonnes of fish every and feeds the lake, contributes to the area’s food safety.
The Mekong River has been dealing with problems despite its abundance of valuable natural resources because climate change, swift river development, and environmental pressure are all contributing factors.
For instance, residents living along the river have been experiencing rising water levels as a result of Typhoon Yagi, which has flooded numerous areas of the Mekong valley and destroyed people’s lives, house, and social items, Mr. Saleumxay told the website.
It was held under the style” Green Funding for a Connected, Resilient, and Water-Secure Southeast Asia”.
According to Mr. Saleumxay, a situation like this necessitates immediate actions for water security, better preventative measures, including improved risk management and early warning systems, as well as a higher level of preparation.
He argued that Asean-MRC may play a significant role in promoting ocean governance and disaster prevention among member states and protecting local communities in the basin.
Prior to the MRC’s consultation process on a electricity task along the Mekong River, it has served as the main channel for member states to openly share information, knowledge, and timely warning.
We must work together to improve our coordination and collaboration in this context to balance economic growth and environmental concerns. The key to the sustainable use and management of water resources lies in cooperation within the Mekong and beyond, he added.
” Let us keep working together to build a more dependable and secure Asean.”
Bounkham Vorachit, the Laos ‘ Natural Resources and Environment Minister, the head of the Lao National Mekong Committee, and the head of the 2024 MRC Council, stated during her remarks that the Mekong River is a crucial source of energy that supports the nations ‘ development, primarily hydropower and more recently solar, wind, and pumped storage. Beyond its role in energy production, the river and its basin support millions of livelihoods through agriculture, fisheries, and transport.
However, according to Ms. Bounkham, those who live along the Mekong are at risk of climate-related disasters because more frequent typhoons and extreme weather events are brought on by climate change, which results in more flooding and drought, and pose a threat to the area.