Surin: The Assistant and Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs extended their gratitude to the European Union diplomatic delegation for visiting Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin Province. The visit aimed to monitor the damage inflicted by attacks on civilians, highlighting Thailand's commitment to humanitarian principles and citizen safety.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Laliwan Kanchanacharee, Assistant Minister to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Chayika Wongnapachan, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, led the European Union diplomatic delegation to the hospital. This visit follows a previous one by Mr. Maris Sengiampong, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on August 16, 2015. During that visit, diplomats and international organization representatives under the Ottawa Convention were brought to the border area in Si Sa Ket Province. Subsequently, the European Union announced an aid package of £700,000 (approximately 26.5 million baht) for civilians affected by the Thai-Cambodian border situation.
The delegation's field visit provided an opportunity to witness firsthand the damage caused by the conflict, particularly to civilian homes, children, women, and medical facilities. Phanom Dong Rak Hospital suffered the most significant damage during the indiscriminate Cambodian attack on July 24, 2015, with many hospital buildings and medical equipment rendered unusable.
Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed the European Union delegation on the impact of the conflict on civilians and facilitated meetings with local authorities, including the provincial office, the provincial public health office, Provincial Police Region 3, and the Mine Clearance Center. The delegation engaged in discussions with affected residents and explored guidelines for humanitarian assistance, including mine clearance. Detailed discussions with Mine Clearance Center officials lasted approximately three hours.
Ms. Chayika expressed gratitude to the European Union for participating in the humanitarian mission, emphasizing that conflicts should not harm innocent civilians and should be restricted to military targets. She noted that Thailand has implemented relief measures for those affected, including soldiers and civilians who lost family members or homes. The Thai government seeks to expand support for affected individuals.
Highlighting the ongoing threat of landmines, Ms. Chayika mentioned the tragic injuries sustained by Thai soldiers and reiterated the International Committee of the Red Cross's (ICRC) goal of eradicating anti-personnel mines by 2025. She emphasized the importance of demining efforts to prevent future civilian casualties.
In the afternoon, the delegation attended a lecture at Phanom Dong Rak Hospital's conference room, surveyed the hospital grounds, and visited nearby affected homes. They engaged with local residents and received a lecture on bomb disposal in the area.