Vientiane (VNA) – Extreme low flows and extensive flooding of differentcommunities along the Mekong River last year and an increasing number ofdroughts that have occurred in many parts of the region in recent years areamong the signs that the Mekong region is facing increasing risks from extreme weather events anddevelopments, says a new report by the Mekong River Commission (MRC).

Boostingregional efforts to provide faster and more accurate forecasting on flood anddrought and expanding anetwork of hydro-meteorological monitoring to collect data in the basin arecritical in addressing these issues, according to the MRC’s 2019 Annual Reportreleased on June 16.

“Flood anddrought have hit our region hard lately and require stronger regionalcollaboration,” says MRC Secretariat’s Chief Executive Offer An Pich Hatda.

“The countriesalong the Lower Mekong River need to step up their collective efforts inaddressing the problems facing them now and in the future, for example byensuring transparency, quality and timeliness in water data sharing.”

“Modernisingthe existing data systems using advanced technology will be necessary,” headds.

The 100-pagereport, which takes stock of key progress and achievements the MRC scored lastyear, says “severe droughts in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) have causedsubstantial economic losses due to damages of agricultural crops, negativeimpacts on the environment, and adverse effects on people’s livelihoods.”

The drought in2016, for example, brought serious economic losses to Thailand, estimated at 1.7billion USD, according to the MRC, which further notes that the LMB is likelyto see more severe droughts in the next 30 to 90 years.

Rapid waterlevel fluctuations due to hydropower operations and flash floods due to climatechange will also be future challenges.

One of theactions that the MRC took last year to respond to the problems, the reportsays, was developing a Drought Management Strategy for 2020-2025, as astrategic approach by the Member Countries to address the increasing risk ofdrought across the region.

The strategyfocuses on five priority areas assessed as “poorly functioning” and requiring“immediate attention” to address droughts. They include drought indicatormonitoring, drought forecasting and early warning, capacity building in droughtassessment and planning, mitigation measures, and information sharing systems./.