Still Hungry: Thousands in Phuket remain in need of food donations as government efforts stall

 

People queue for food at the ‘Duen Sip’ Buddhist festival held in Baan Don, Thalang, last week. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET: While the government maintains its focus on efforts to restart any form of tourism to Phuket, thousands of people across the island remain in need of food donations to get by – with no support from any government agencies.

 

It has been months since local government organisations have handed out food to people in need.

 

A public relations staffer at Patong Municipality, one of the hardest-hit areas on the island due to the international tourism lockout, told The Phuket News this week, “The municipality budget to provide food is already gone. The last food handout was on June 20, which provided food to about 10,000 people in need.

 

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/still-hungry-thousands-in-phuket-remain-in-need-of-food-donations-as-government-efforts-stall-77364.php

 

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2 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

It has been months since local government organisations have handed out food to people in need.

What do these people expect?

Help from a bunch of geriatric/ past their sell by date ex army wallas, more interested in buying useless Chinese subs, Stryker APCs, Ukrain tanks, than helping the people.

A very sad pathetic state of affairs, Prayut sitting in his ivory tower, immune to reality.

Shocking. Government too busy trying to spirit away trillions of baht for their own enrichment.

This is unacceptable, why hasn't the local mayor contacted his Bangkok counterpart and organized food and water and supplies This is concerning to me and i'm sure if the PM Khun Prayut was made aware of this he would most certainly be annoyed nothing was done, and i'm sure he would act. 

I expect we'll see follow up action later today .... imo

The big talks of the last couple of weeks whereby the government will hand out billions in aid and assistance to the poor was just that, a big talk, hot air and lip service for every one to hear but NOT SEE...

those first couple of women don't look like they're starving. 

A post using a disallowed trolling reference to the PM has been removed.

 

An inflammatory post and a reply has been removed. 

Perhaps this aid is what the students should be doing, arranging food aid for the masses, then Thai's would support their ideas. but then running pop stars are strangely quite in their Ivory towers too? Fields of crops are everywhere, markets full of food, waters full of fish and these people of Phuket sit around waiting for free food, strange, in a few weeks send them out to harvest crops, and get fed. a win win situation! sure changes need to be made, some rules changed, new faces and ideas added to the government to develop the country to support and improve, but, those who want the changes should move and show what should be done, not crowding and around stall of food, fancy goods flashing their iPhone, but visiting factories and supplier, filling trucks with food, campaign for social services that support the poor and needy, following the money trails, showing where and who is siphoning every single baht, forcing the removal of every crooked person and putting honest people in their place.

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

This is concerning to me and i'm sure if the PM Khun Prayut was made aware of this he would most certainly be annoyed nothing was done, and i'm sure he would act. 

Yeah, he might turn over in bed

Failing to assist the population in their time of need is a national disgrace!  Ministers keep harping on about the loss of tourists and slump in exports, so by simple deduction, they should know that many people are suffering financially, yet are very happy to live their lives of "Larry" and do nothing to help them.  Not surprising people are so dissatisfied with the way that they operate.

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Thousands in Phuket remain in need of food donations as government efforts stall

 

Thankless, selfish peasants…only thinking of themselves. Instead they should be paying homage to the Hero-General....and rejoicing in his grand fleet of submarines that will soon bring prestige and glory to the nation.

 

 

 

It's not just Phuket is it. its every corner of this ransacked plundered land and a total disgrace engineered by a fake self indulgent government ????????

Thousands are hungry so the powers that be organise the Phuket Seafood & Gastronomy Festival.

 

I shakes me head in bewilderment.

I totally agree that this disgraceful government, run by the rich for the rich should do much, much more, all over the country. I can't help thinking where are the rich of Phuket? who have made absolute fortunes gouging the tourists for the last 40 years or so? Any sign of them helping? nah, didn't think so...

So, who has provided the food that all the people photod in the OP are queueing up for?

Businesses diagnosed with a bleak outlook, people let go from their jobs without hesitation, the economy as a whole a pathetic festering mess, and now the common Thai going hungry while they sink lower into the poverty line. Things have gone way too far, the virus has a CFR of around 0.3%! 

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

those first couple of women don't look like they're starving. 

Have you ever been hungry with empty pockets ?

It's very sad and an unbelievable disgrace for the Government.

Cashing in billions of $ for decades but denying funds for essential help in desperate times.

A bigger loss of face shouldn't be possibile.

         Help your people, It's their money in your hands not yours!

About a month ago, I bought a 50kg bag of rice and some sardine cans in ketchup. Handed them out to the local Burmese.

 

I was chastised by Thais for not taking a selfie doing it and for not handing out to the local Thais.

 

Go figure.

Sorry the money went on a new aircraft for the military Generals to travel around in 

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“The municipality budget to provide food is already gone. The last food handout was on June 20, which provided food to about 10,000 people in need.

But Prayut says he cares for the people of Thailand like his own children...

I don't see them starving sitting on the streets for a handout.

The two ladies at the front of the line don't look all that hungry or underfed.

4 hours ago, steven100 said:

those first couple of women don't look like they're starving. 

Callous remark! What do you expect? Black and white Belsen type pics?

 

IMO a disgraceful situation when you consider the amount of money spent on submarines and planes!

Quote

To contribute to the relief efforts, simply scan and pay for Lean On Me food packs at any Villa Market in Phuket, or order the packs online via Villa Market’s online shopping portal.

Can't find these on the online shopping portal.

There seems to be a facebook group collecting donations and buying food for desperate: https://m.facebook.com/HELPPHUKETTODAY/

Has anyone else noticed how many fat people line up for free food.

I've seen this in my own country too. Whenever you see a photo of people desperate for food, they are always fat, or obese. 

 

Don't see too many thin people lining up for food.

 Cold something else be going on?

 

A post attempting to bring the Royal family into the discussion has been removed.

Thai people are truly lovely people

i hope the wealthy can help these that are hungry

i try to give something to eat every day I can 

 

22 billion for low quality vanity subs. Nothing for the people. The glory and compassion of the Thai army. 

There was a lot of food kitchens set up in Phuket obviously relying on donations but when the donations dry up then no food from what I could see mostly sponsored by local restaurants, That is all finished many FB pages and groups where setup.