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Thailand

PM travels to Surat Thani to follow up on Southern flood situation

January 26, 2017, at 1000hrs, at Surat Thani Power Plant, Punpin district, Surat Thani province, Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, together with Interior Minister Gen. Anupong Paojinda, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Gen. Chatchai Sarikulya, Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, and other concerned officials, were welcomed by Surat Thani Governor Uaychai Innak, local officials and people.

In the morning, the Prime Minister had an aerial inspection of flood-affected areas in Punpin, Ban Na Derm, and Kiansa districts from a helicopter view, before traveling to Surat Thani Power Plant to meet with the crowds. Surat Thani Governor reported that Surat Thani’s 18 districts, 119 sub-districts, 911 villages, 33 communities, 79,365 households, and 232,061 victims have been affected by flood disaster. Provincial administrations have worked in an integrative manner with the central government to evacuate people, provide temporary shelters and relief bags, as well as counseling, and occupational assistance. Surat Thani province also plans to propose construction of Kaem Ling project (under the royal initiative of His Majesty late King Bhumibol) as a long-term solution to the flood problem.

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to observe flood relief measures and operations of various government offices, and handed relatives of flood-affected casualties with remedial funds. He also boosted morale of the local people, and insisted that the Government has been developing disaster management plan for each of the 77 provinces (Bangkok included). The Prime Minister thanked all concerned agencies and sectors for joining forces in mitigating people’s plights, and urged that relief operations be continued until the situation becomes normal. He also mentioned that His Majesty King Rama X has given an order for the Government to provide best possible assistance and relief to the flood-affected victims in the South.

The Prime Minister called for cooperation from all sector to work in an integrative and sustainable manner based on the royal initiatives of His Majesty late King Bhumibol in preventing and tackling disasters, and in rehabilitating. Modern equipment and technology should be utilized in monitoring and inspecting flooded areas. Each community should also come up with its own surveillance measures in coping with changes and threats of all forms, e.g., terrorism, narcotics, conflicts, etc.

The Prime Minister also thanked people from the South who traveled all the way to Bangkok to pay respect to His Majesty late King Bhumibol at the Grand Palace. He, then, visited Ban Nong Jok, and a forward command of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.