By Thin Lei Win

BANGKOK (AlertNet) – The corridor is dark and dank even in the middle of the day, the concrete floor uneven and dirty. The staircase, just a few steps from stagnant greenish-brown floodwaters, is full of unidentifiable stains and smells.

Impoverished workers from Myanmar cook, eat and sleep in tiny, one-bedroom apartments in this grimy multi-storey building in Samut Sakhon, a province next to the Thai capital Bangkok with a large migrant population.

In the industrial province of Ayutthaya, where some of the biggest Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and Honda have factories, construction is resuming and there are signs that life is gradually beginning to recover after the floods. Walking into the Roong Charoen Market, still the site of an emergency evacuation centre, the sounds of drills and dust particles in the air promise economic recovery for this bustling province.

Global temperatures in 2011 have not been as warm as the record-setting values seen in 2010 but have likely been warmer than any previous strong La Niña year, based on preliminary data from data sources compiled by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The global combined sea surface and land surface air temperature for 2011 (January–October) is currently estimated at 0.41°C ± 0.111°C (0.74°F ± 0.20°F) above the 1961–1990 annual average of 14.00°C/57.2°F.

Gabrielle Paluch | Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand’s historic floods are now slowly receding. But in Bangkok, scores of evacuees are reluctant to go home. As the government discusses how to compensate flood victims for their losses, residents who are facing the task of rebuilding their lives speak out.

At the height of the floods, the Chaeng Wattana evacuation center in Thailand’s capital housed over 3,800 people. Many are now going home.

BANGKOK, 28 November 2011 (IRIN) - Less than a year after Bangkok was chosen as a "role model city" [ http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=90748 ] by the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) as part of the UN's 2010-2015 "Making Cities Resilient" campaign, the worst floods in half a century put that distinction to the test.

IRIN asked experts what the 3,000 low-lying cities such as Bangkok - which includes its delta neighbours - can do to improve their flood resilience.

Durban climate talks must deliver action to prevent spiraling hunger

In the last year extreme weather events shocked global markets contributing to soaring wheat prices and imperiling food security in many parts of the world, according to research compiled by Oxfam at the start of the Durban climate talks.

This year could be a grim foretaste of what is to come as new warnings from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) show extreme weather events are likely to increase in frequency and severity without action to tackle climate change.

The current flood woe engulfing major parts of Thailand are serious concern to many. Being a close neighbour sharing borders in four states of the peninsular as well as cultural and historical relations, Malaysia feels responsible to lend support to Thailand for the relief effort. Due to the desire to help Thailand, some prominent voluntary and service groups as well as NGOs and other institution has formed humanitarian team. The team lead by Dato’ Latt Shariman Abdullah, Special Functions Officer to Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

24 Nov 2011 02:59

Source: reuters // Reuters

BANGKOK, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Thailand's worst floods in 50 years have killed 610 people and devastated industry, but the situation is slowly improving, with water receding in many affected areas and some firms resuming business.

The government, central bank and economists have slashed their economic growth forecasts for the year.

The government has pledged 130 billion baht ($4.2 billion) to help the recovery effort, but rebuilding and improvement of defences will require huge sums.