Thailand Unveils Financial Aid Plan for South’s Flood Victims

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Thailand's government is stepping in to assist families hit hard by recent floods in the southern region. Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that each affected household will receive 9,000 baht, comparable to the aid given to those in the northern floods.

 

Anutin, who doubles as the Interior Minister, is hopeful about the situation improving soon, thanks to weather forecasts predicting less rainfall. Local agencies are busy assessing the flood damage, which spans homes and public infrastructure.

 

To tackle the crisis, 70 million baht have been set aside for immediate needs in the impacted areas. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is actively working with local agencies in designated disaster zones, according to Anutin.

 

“The 9,000 baht per household will apply in the south just as it was in the north,” he stated. Once the cabinet approves, the funds will be directly deposited into the accounts of those affected. Phatsakorn Bunyalak, DDPM’s Director General, confirmed that the heavy rains starting November 28 have caused the region’s worst flooding in decades.

 

 

The disaster has submerged 640,581 homes across 87 districts and 10 provinces, resulting in 12 tragic deaths. Many areas remain underwater, with residents needing urgent support.

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra plans to visit the flood-stricken areas of Songkhla and Pattani on December 6. In a push to speed up help, she has directed Prommin Lertsuridej, her secretary-general, to enhance aid efforts.

 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance is setting up a scheme with state banks, including the Government Savings Bank, to offer 50 billion baht in low-interest loans. These loans will help individuals and businesses recover, said Lavaron Sangsnit, the ministry’s permanent secretary.

 

Debt relief measures, including reduced interest rates and longer repayment terms, are also being introduced to ease the financial pressure on flood victims.

 

-- 2024-12-02