PHNOM PENH: Luxembourg has provided US $1.13 million, to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to assist Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam in implementing the Mekong River ecological conservation and resilience function to combat against climate risks, floods and droughts.

This grant will support a variety of activities, including core river basin management, data acquisition, and improved sample monitoring and evaluation functions. In addition, it will assist in planning, forecasting and contributing to the MRC's emergency response alert system. This was confirmed by the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Luxembourg in Laos, Sam Schreiner. He said Luxembourg's commitment to the Mekong Basin remains strong and that his government wants to see a prosperous and responsible development in the Mekong region. He believes that this assistance will contribute in a way to helping the MRC and its member countries address the risks posed by climate change and downstream changes in the Mekong Basin.

The Executive Director of the MRC Secretariat, Dr Anoulak Kittikhoun, has said the assistance came at a time when the Mekong Basin was tackling major challenges posed by climate change, particularly droughts and floods, as well as increasing ecological pressure. He said that without intervention, the weakening of the river basin ecosystem could seriously affect the people and the economy that depends on the Mekong River. Over the last decade, Luxembourg has contributed nearly US $4 million to the MRC Strategic Plan prior to 2016-2020, and has supported the MRC Climate Change and Adaptation Initiative, according to the MRC report from 2010-2015.