Laos is developing many provincial areas in preparation to accommodate the Hmong refugees who are expected to be repatriated from Thailand in the near future.
The preparations include building housing, clearing arable lands, building irrigation canals, schools, health centers and others. The Lao government expects to spend a total of 1 billion kips on each community.
Thai authorities say they will start repatriating the more than 7,000 Hmongs who were recently evacuated from Ban Huay Nam Khao to a new nearby camp as soon as their nationalities are verified by the Lao government.
The Hmongs, however, say they would resist all attempts to repatriate them and would rather die than go back to Laos.
Listen to our Laos Today report for more details.
