SK Group donates US$10 million for Attapeu flood relief

Chair of the Korean firm's Social Contribution Committee, Mr Gwang-Chul Choi, handed over the donation to Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Dr Khampheng Saysompheng at a ceremony held at the Attapeu provincial office on August 18.
Speaking at the donation ceremony, Mr Choi said "On behalf of the SK Group, I give my deepest condolences to the local residents who suffered in the accident."  
"We made the donation in the hope that residents will soon recover from the damage as well as the emotional hardship suffered." 
Dr Khampheng said the Lao government highly valued and acknowledged the support given by the Korean company to the Lao government so that it would be better placed to help people affected by the catastrophic flood. 
"I would like to thank Mr Gwang-Chul Choi and Mr Sung-Soon Shin for visiting the site. And also, I would like to thank the countries and all other parties that have provided the Lao government with material and financial aid," Dr Khampheng said, adding that the assistance would help to rebuild people's lives as well as restore schools and hospitals. 
"In the future, detailed recovery plans will be further discussed with the relevant sectors including the central government and the local government in Attapeu," he added. 
Attapeu provincial Governor Mr Let Xayaphone said provincial authorities also expressed their acknowledgement of the Korean company's donation to the flood relief fund, adding that it would play an important role in helping the flood victims to recover.  
The SK Group has been actively involved in the relief and recovery effort since the accident occurred. 
The firm provided relief funds directly to the government to help local people return to their normal lives as soon as possible. 
On July 27, Tae-Won Chey, Chairman of the SK Group, visited the Embassy of Laos in Hannam-dong, Seoul, and met with Ambassador Khamsouay Keodalavong to offer his condolences and informed him of his wish to donate US$10 million to the relief effort.
In addition, SK E&C has organised a group of about 200 people to carry out emergency relief and restoration activities on site since the accident occurred. 
One of the projects SK E&C is involved in is the repair of 8 kilometres of roads leading to villages that were critically affected by the flood. A number of wooden bridges have been replaced with metal ones so that relief supplies can reach flood-affected areas.
The company is now building large-scale temporary housing for about 150 families on a 10,000m2 site provided by the provincial government. 
In addition to financial assistance, the Korean company has donated a million dollars' worth of goods such as food and medical, sanitary and household essentials weighing about 111 tonnes to the Lao government and the flood victims. 
The flood in Sanamxay district, Attapeu province is considered one of the biggest such events in Lao history. 
The flood occurred suddenly after the collapse of one of five auxiliary dams at the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower project.