Princess springs big surprise

Uttaradit _ Villagers and local officials in flood-devastated Laplae district of this northern province were taken by surprise when they heard Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali express her discontent over superficial flood relief operations being discussed by officials over walkie-talkies. The princess on Monday visited tambon Mae Poon, one of the hardest-hit areas, where many people were killed in the May 23 flood disaster.

As she was cooking lunch for displaced villagers at a temple, the princess overheard officials discussing over their walkie-talkies about cancelling her trip to a remote Maharaj village, which was flattened by the flood.

She immediately asked for a radio transmitter from a nearby official and, speaking into it, she said: ''Who told you to cancel the trip? I will go there to help the villagers no matter how tough the road is, even if I have to walk.'' The princess also told the officials not to ''make up'' the flood-ravaged scenes to please her.

Full story from the Bangkok Post here.

Princess springs big surprise....

You forgot the key quote:

''I want to see the real problems. Stop doing the cosmetic jobs on flood relief. And make sure that the donations go to needy villagers,'' she said.

<inappropriate comments deleted>

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Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, the Royal Consort of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, consoles a flood victim in Uttaradit’s Tha Pla district yesterday.

Source: The Nation - 1 June 2006

The Ministry of Agriculture sets aside 700 million baht to fix land damaged by the flood

The ministry of agriculture and cooperatives is preparing to set aside 700 million baht to compensate northern landowners for flood damage to their lands, using satellite imagery to assess the extent of damage.

Khunying Sudarat Gayurapan (สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธุ์), the minister of agriculture and cooperatives, gave a summary of the extent of flood damage in the northern region, stating that 900,000 hectares of agricultural land was destroyed. Khunying Sudarat stated that the government will compensate landowners according to the following criteria: 289 baht per hectare of field crops, 243 baht per hectare of rice crops, and 369 baht per hectare of fruits.

The ministry of agriculture has found that an additional 57,000 hectares of land has been damaged, but could be mended. Khunying Sudarat added that approximately 700 million baht in funds will be set aside as an agricultural compensation fund.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 June 2006

Flood aid earmarked for farmers

The Agriculture Ministry has designated 700 million baht for flood relief, the majority of which will be funneled toward the rehabilitation of agricultural land damaged or destroyed by the recent heavy flooding in the North, according to caretaker Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan.

“The ministry will provide compensatory damages following the regulations that have been put in place by our office,” Khunying Sudarat said yesterday.

She added that the lion’s share of aid will go to overhaul the 900,000 rai of rice fields that were totally destroyed. The 57,000 rai of rice fields that sustained partial damage will receive compensation for mud removal.

“The ministry will use aerial photos to determine which areas should be attended to most urgently,” Khunying Sudarat said.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Uttaradit’s Laplae district, Thongchai Teyathiti, reported that rain was continuing to fall in the area, making villagers anxious about the possible arrival of further flooding. Some people are returning to their villages in order to salvage what is left of their personal property despite official warnings of possible mudslides, he said.

Thongchai has assigned village leaders the task of monitoring weather conditions round the clock. Warnings will be issued to villagers if evacuation becomes necessary.

Meteorologists have predicted a possible continuation of heavy rainfall in the lower northern, upper northeastern, central and eastern areas of the country. Bangkok and its environs areas are currently under heavy cloud cover.

Source: ThaiDay - 2 June 2006

Mr. Sathiraphan still performs his role on assisting flood victims

Royal Thai Navy Commander Sathiraphan Keyanond (สถิรพันธ์ เกยานนท์) still continues his role of assisting the flood victims.

The Commander said that the Royal Thai Navy has already dispatched its authorities and equipments to support the relief efforts in the three flood-stricken provinces, namely Uttaradit (อุตรดิตถ์), Sukhothai (สุโขทัย), and Phitsanulok (พิษณุโลก). In Uttaradit, officials are helping to restore the local residences. Divers have been dispatched to the provinces to help find the missing people.

In the meantime, he has reminded officials to inspect every area so that every troubled people can reach the government’s assistance. The aid also includes the restoration of the victims’ psychological conditions.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 June 2006

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra receives a Bt1 million donation from Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Boonsong Srifuangfung to help people stricken by the flooding in the North at Government House yesterday.

Source: The Nation

Uttaradit is still searching for survivors from the floods

Uttaradit is still searching for the people missing in the floods last week.

Uttaradit governor Upparit Srichan (อุปฤทธิ์ ศรีจันทร์) said more heavy machinery would be brought into Ban Nam Lee (น้ำลี) and Ban Nam Ta (น้ำต๊ะ) in Tha Pla (ท่าปลา) district to clear the debris from the devastating floods to facilitate the search for survivors.

Pol. Lt. Upparit said 31 people of the two villages are still missing but the province would not stop searching for them.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 June 2006

3 more bodies found in Uttaradit flood casualty

Three more bodies, part of the casualty from the flooding in the lower northern provinces, have been found today.

Uttaradit Governor Upparit Srichan (อุปฤทธิ์ ศรีจันทร์), revealed that the 3 bodies comprise 2 late middle-aged women and a youth aged between 12-16 years. The bodies were found at Paknamlee (ปากน้ำลี) in Namphra (น้ำพร้า) subdistrict in Thapla (ท่าปลา). The site of finding was the mouth of a waterway that flowed into the Sirikit (สิริกิติ์) dam's reservior. The bodies were submerged in water underneath debris. They have been brought to Monmai (หมอนไม้) temple, the body storage and identification center for flood victims in the province.

The number of bodies found in Thapla district now totals 28. In the meantime the search units are continuing with their work.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 June 2006