BANGKOK, 14 May 2013 (NNT) - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has reported that there are still 54 provinces in need of emergency drought-relief assistance.

The DDPM Director General says that approximately 556 districts, 3,740 sub-districts and 36,580 villages in 54 provinces are still under risk of drought disasters. However, the southern province of Satun has been taken out of the list of disaster-hit provinces.

BANGKOK, 12 May 2013 (NNT) – Teachers in the southern border region are confident in the security programs designed to protect them although they remain unsure about the effectiveness of the actual implementation.

Chairperson of the Confederation of Teachers of the Three Southern Border Provinces Boonsom Thongsriprai said that his latest meeting with all security agencies in the restive region, on Saturday, discussed the details of the safety programs for educators and school personnel after the new school term begins.

BANGKOK, 6 May 2013 (NNT)-The Ministry of Public Health is aiming to stop the outbreak of Malaria in Thailand within the next 7 years after nearly 2,500 people have been found with the disease so far this year.

According to Public Health Minister Dr. Pradit Sintawanarong, the Ministry has launched a campaign to stop the outbreak of Malaria permanently in 80% of the country’s total areas. Under the scheme, health examination services have been provided in the area where contraction of Malaria has been reported whilst those with infections will be treated on the spot.

BANGKOK, 2 May 2013 (NNT) – The Disease Control Department (DDC) has reported that 33 people have died of dengue fever, while trying to raise public awareness of the disease.

The Department of Disease Control under the Public Health Ministry has hosted an event to raise awareness of dengue fever.

According to Disease Control Department Director-General Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, over 26,000 cases of dengue fever have been reported during January 1st to April 30th; 33 of the patients died.

LAMPANG, 24 April 2013 (NNT) – The drought situation continues to exacerbate, with water sources drying up. Meanwhile, storms pounded several provinces in the northern region last night, tearing off the roofs of many homes.

BANGKOK, 19 April 2013 (NNT) - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has declared 48 provinces nationwide drought disaster zones, with 31 of them hardest hit.

Among the 48 drought-hit provinces are Kalasin, Sukhothai, Tak, Chiang Rai and Ranong. 31 provinces in the North, Northeast and East continue to be gripped by worsening drought, which covers more than 50 percent of the entire province.

SURIN, 17 April 2013 (NNT) - More than 150 houses, rice barns and mills, and animal farms in Surin were destroyed after a tropical storm hit this northeastern province last evening.

Authorities said the trail of damages could be seen in Jom Phra and Muang Districts, adding the storm has blown roofs of many houses a few kilometers away. The provincial rice depot belonging to the government’s rice pledging scheme was also completely torn down by the storm.

Initially the local administration is working around the clock to aid storm victims.

BANGKOK, 12 April 2013 (NNT) - The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) made known that 46 provinces across the country have been declared drought disaster zones as the crisis continues to grip the North and the Northeast.

Out of the 46 drought-stricken zones, the DDPM reported that a total of 29 provinces, including Kalasin, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sukhothai, Chiang Rai and Tak, are experiencing severe drought. More than 50 percent of areas in each province are hit by water shortages.

During 26-28 March 2013, Thailand dispatched livestock experts to help Myanmar in buffalo development in Labutta, Ayeyarwaddy Region.

The Thai experts from the Department of Livestock Development, visited the Labutta Buffalo Development Centre, established under the support of the Thai Government in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, when most buffaloes were cleared away in the natural disaster in 2008.