VIENTIANE, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has provided the Lao government with supplies to support the humanitarian response in the wake of last week's dam collapse in Attapeu Province.
UNFPA focused on the special needs of women and girls who comprise about half of the affected population.
The supplies include UNFPA's trademark Dignity Kits containing essential women's hygiene and safety items, as well as Clean Delivery Packs and Clean Delivery Kits to support safer pregnancy and childbirth, Lao News Agency (KPL) reported on Thursday
According to the latest Situation Report from the United Nations in Laos, out of about 13,000 people affected by the dam collapse, some 6,400 are women.
On July 23, a saddle dam of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project, invested by South Korean, Thai and Lao companies, burst, unleashing 5 billion cubic meters of water from the mountain to 13 villages of Sanamxay district downstream the Xe Pian River, some 560 km southeast of Vientiane.
Six villages were almost submerged by the muddy flood with 13,000 villagers being affected. Till Monday, 11 people have been confirmed dead, 120 remains missing in the dam collapse accident.
