1. The government of the Republic of Korea held a meeting of “the private-public joint council for overseas emergency relief” on July 25 to discuss ways to render emergency relief aid to Loas, which is suffering serious damage from the collapse of part of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam on July 23, 2018. Acting Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Kang Jeong-sik presided over the meeting.

※ Pursuant to the “Overseas Emergency Relief Act,” with respect to large-scale overseas disasters, the private-public joint council for overseas emergency relief deliberates on and passes resolutions on basic matters necessary to facilitate overseas emergency relief.

° The meeting brought together officials from such related government agencies as the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the National Fire Agency, as well as members of the Korean Red Cross, the Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperation and other private organizations.

2. The government decided to dispatch to Laos as soon as possible a Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) composed of rescue and medical personnel for rescue operations, medical assistance and disease prevention efforts in the country.

° The government will send to Laos an advance team, consisting of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korea International Cooperation Agency, the National Fire Agency, and the National Medical Center, within 24 hours to gather information on the local situation and to discuss what would be necessary for the dispatch of the KDRT. Such details as the timing of the KDRT dispatch will be decided after consultations with the Lao government.

3. At the meeting, the council discussed the possibility of offering medical, pharmaceutical and relief supplies as well as emergency relief fund in assistance to residents in the affected area; and decided to set a detailed list of assistance and aid delivery methods by taking into account the Lao government’s position.

* unofficial translation