Mof Sets Up 24-hour Assistance Centre

Foreign Affairs Ministry sets up 24-hour assistance centre

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today announced the establishment of 24-hour assistance centres in the Phuket and Don Muang Airports to help foreigners affected by Sunday's tsunami.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kiattikhun Chatprasert said that the ministry had sent officials to Phuket and other afflicted provinces to provide emergency assistance to foreigners, while the 24-hour centre at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport would have four officials on hand to help foreign residents and tourists.

He also praised the international community for its overwhelming support for the relief effort, noting that China had donated USD300,000, South Korea USD500,000, and Australia USD7.7 million for the region as a whole.

He also noted that Germany and the Netherlands were sending in forensic experts to help perform autopsies on the 1,000-plus people who were killed when tidal waves smashed into the southern coastline on Sunday.

However, he called on the international community to send in more forensic experts, psychiatrists, formalin, refrigerated containers and black plastic bags.

Tomorrow French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier is due to make a special flight to Thailand to deliver aid, and will hold talks with his Thai counterpart Surakiart Sathirathai.

--TNA 2004-12-28