Flood Victims' Health Among Our Top Priorities, Thai Minister Jurin Says

Victims' health among our top priorities, Jurin says

By The Nation

Three public health concerns are priorities in the postflooding restorations improvement of physical and mental healths of flood victims, prevention of possible outbreaks, and restoration and sanitisation under high standard, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisith said yesterday.

The flood situation in the South is easing with water level receding in most areas in the ten affected provinces where only five hospitals and clinics, out of a total of 169 closed, remain unopened while the heavilydamaged Tha Chang hospital in Surat Thani's Phun Phin district would be fully operational today.

Residents living near a hill with long cracks in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Nopphitam district have been evacuated, with four locations at greatest risk of landslide and falling rocks sealed off. Military engineers are repairing damaged roads and bridges, which could be passable within next five days, provincial cleark Decha Kangsanant said.

Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi yesterday visited flooded areas in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Si Chon district, where she distributed 400 survival kits and made special visits to four homes under royal patronage. The crowds appreciated encouragement and kind words by her husband His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn expressed through her.

The floodcaused fatalities reached 63 in a ministry update released yesterday, with Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, and Trang still being affected. In restoration, tap water in most Surat Thani districts could produce 30 per cent of full capacity and electricity was not yet available to around 7,800 of all 712,654 households facing blackouts.

The chairman of Surat Thani chamber of commerce, Ekkaphoj Yordphinij, estimated that the damage done to local businesses was around Bt10 billion, Bt800 alone suffered by shrimp farmers. A projected shrimpt export amount of 670,000 tonnes is reduced to 500,000 tonnes, which is still difficult, he said.

There are 619 schools damaged which would require Bt402 million to repair or restore. An urgent Bt193milion is need to repair doors and windows and buy textbooks before the next semester begins, by May 15.

The perhousehold Bt5,000 pay to flood victims will be available to all recipients after the Songkran holiday break on Apirl 18, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his weekly television programme yesterday morning.

-- The Nation 2011-04-11