VIENTIANE, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank recently provided a loan of more than 257 billion kip (31 million U.S. dollars) to Laos for implementing its disaster risk management project.

The five-year project will be initially launched in the model provinces of northern Laos' Phongsaly, Oudomxay and Luang Prabang which have been badly affected by natural disasters in recent years, local daily Vientiane Times Friday quoted Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment as saying.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Khamlien Pholsena, speaking at a workshop on Thursday in Lao capital Vientiane, said the main works of the project, namely Lao PDR Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Management Project, included embankment construction to reduce the risk from floods in Xay district, Oudomxay province which will be carried out by Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

Authorities will improve early warning and meteorology systems as well as preparedness to prevent disasters in the three provinces of Phongsaly, Oudomxay and Luang Prabang, which will be implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is also stepping up efforts to disseminate information about reducing the risk of natural disasters which in turn boosts socio-economic development, the deputy minister added.

Meanwhile, World Bank representative to Laos, Daryl Fields said natural disasters had a multitude of effects on residents, farms as well as the environment and social development. This project was very useful to Laos as it would help prevent flooding and reduce risks to farmers as well as prevent local people's lives being affected by disasters.

"The World Bank is very proud to help Laos in reducing the risk from disasters and thousands of people will receive assistance from this project, especially the useful early warning and meteorology systems," she said.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Laos is prone to natural disasters, such as in August last year when floods and land-slides affected the country's northern provinces such as Oudomxay.