Bangkok: PM orders all sectors to mobilize forces to cope with second wave of rain, southern region still a concern, while overall situation has improved in 4 provinces, urgently surveying damage and providing assistance. Ms. Sasikarn Wattanachan, Deputy Government Spokesperson, revealed that Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, has ordered all units to mobilize all forces to help flood victims, especially in the southern region, as announced that there will be a second wave of rain from today (December 3) until December 5. Currently, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has mobilized 5,592 personnel, officers, and volunteers, along with 6,437 units of equipment, tools, and military equipment, such as 676 boats of various types and 72 trucks for transporting victims.
According to Thai News Agency, the deputy spokesman revealed that from the flood situation in the South in the past, a total of 10 provinces were affected. At present, the situation has improved in 4 provinces: Chumphon,
Surat Thani, Trang and Satun. There are still flooded areas in 6 provinces: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. The number of affected households has decreased from 664,173 to 302,982 households, reflecting that the situation is improving.
‘However, as more rain is expected to fall in the area, especially in the four southern provinces where flooding is still high, various agencies have set up 489 evacuation centers to accommodate 66,800 people. Currently, there are 40,768 people staying in the centers. For those who have not evacuated to the centers, 23 kitchens and food trucks have been set up to distribute cooked food to the affected areas,’ said Ms. Sasikarn.
The Prime Minister also expressed his concern for vulnerable groups, bedridden patients and the elderly in the affected areas, which the Ministry of Public Health reported to be 18,648 people. Of these, 299 were pregnant women and kidney patients who required close care. If they were being treated in hospitals
at risk of flooding, they would be moved to safe hospitals. As for those who were not being treated in hospitals, he ordered public health officials and village health volunteers to closely monitor their symptoms and provide care.
‘For relief measures, the same approach will be used to care for our brothers and sisters in the North, emphasizing the reduction of procedures and paperwork and disbursing relief money to the victims as quickly as possible. As for other damages, such as agricultural areas, fisheries, and livestock, we have expedited the survey of the damage in order to promptly disburse relief money according to the criteria,’ said Ms. Sasikarn.