Urgent Need For Blankets In Nan; Cold Kills 2 More

[george]

Urgent need for blankets in Nan; cold kills 2 more

The winter cold has claimed two lives - and tormented many members of a primitive tribe in chilly Nan province in the far Northeast.

A 64-year-old inmate went into shock at Ubon Ratchathani prison and succumbed to a chronic respiratory problem at a local hospital yesterday.

The second victim was a 6-month-old baby with asthmatic symptoms in Pathum Thani who was found dead yesterday morning by his mother after he suffered high fever all Sunday night.

All 25 families of a Mlabri (Yellow Banana Leaves) tribe are suffering from cold due to insufficient winter clothes and relying on bonfires to keep warm. Around 70 children were suffering cold and fever, local disaster prevention official Thawat Phetthera said.

Around 65,000 people living in Nan were in need of blankets and winter clothes, he said. Nan has been declared a risk zone because of the severe cold.

Ubon Ratchathani is also classified a risk zone after temperatures dropped to lower than 15 Celsius in the past three days in 2,668 villages in 20 districts and five subdistricts, affecting around 240,000 people, disaster prevention chief official Suksant Bunsaengtho said.

Around 8,000 blankets had been distributed but around 270,000 were still needed. An emergency Bt50-billion budget is being considered by local authorities at both provincial and tambon levels to provide the blankets.

In Chiang Mai, around 58,000 people living in 95 villages in Om Koi district were now suffering from the cold, district chief Phutthiphong Sirimart said. Around 10,000 survival kits had been distributed.

In Wiang Haeng district, more than 1,000 families in 23 villages were still vulnerable to the cold and waiting for assistance from authorities, district chief Chao Plengwitthaya said.

--The Nation 2006-12-26

[AlexLah]

Where are all those blankets given to them in 2005, 2004, 2003 and so on.

[londonthai]

thais tend not to use blanket cases - so after the season, if you don't have a very large washing mashine, blanket is too dirty to be used the next winter. Knowing the quality of the thai blankets, and most probably those given away, they don't last long (especially if washed often).

[h90]

Where are all those blankets given to them in 2005, 2004, 2003 and so on.

that was my thai wife also asking. She thinks they sell it when it gets warmer.

[toptuan]

And where's the 131m Baht Bangkok budgeted three weeks ago for the coming cold crisis in the north? Already in some BKK politician's/fat-cat's warm pocket?

Edited December 27, 2006 by toptuan

[MiG16]

you have to see the kind of blankets that are handed out. they dont last very long. also in the remote villages they use it in the warmer months as well. remember that these people are getting up as early as 3 or 4am and going about in the forest area, so the blankets are well used. I wouldnt be surprised that they get wear and tear.

sold? highly unlikely. I cant imagine a market for them.

do keep in mind that we are not talking about the nice warm soft doonas that you would have back home in the states, europe or aus.

anyway, its just the news....you dont have to do anything about it.....those that care will do what they feel they can..those that dont....just go on with the usual routine.

cheers.

[Bottlerocket]

Well, I guess no one presses for blankets to keep from dying because they don't want to graeng jai. A few big banana leaves oughta keep 'em snug.

[aaaaaa]

I always wondered: why not once and forever make for those folks proper houses suitable for chilly winter and / or at least provide them with some sort of heaters? simple stoves would help a lot more than yearly distribution of countless usells blankets! I mean, who in sane state would huddle into blanket if there is no roof over the head, or if walls are full of holes and draft wistles freely in thei huts? I'm sure no any amount of blankets would help it.

I was talking with my friend in Taiwan yesterday. climate there is about the same as Northern Thailand, or even more cold, although hardly ever there is snow. Taiwanese have all sorts of room heaters in their department stores. WHY NOT here in Thailand? yes, in Bangkok and Central part they might be not necessary - but not so in North, especially on high altotudes.

[londonthai]

that would be ideal to build several million decent houses - but they would still need tens of millions of matrasses, bedlinen and blankets

[nikster]

you have to see the kind of blankets that are handed out. they dont last very long. also in the remote villages they use it in the warmer months as well. remember that these people are getting up as early as 3 or 4am and going about in the forest area, so the blankets are well used. I wouldnt be surprised that they get wear and tear.

sold? highly unlikely. I cant imagine a market for them.

do keep in mind that we are not talking about the nice warm soft doonas that you would have back home in the states, europe or aus.

anyway, its just the news....you dont have to do anything about it.....those that care will do what they feel they can..those that dont....just go on with the usual routine.

cheers.

Sir - thank you for that well balanced and respectful posting. Quoted for truth.

[aaaaaa]

that would be ideal to build several million decent houses - but they would still need tens of millions of matrasses, bedlinen and blankets

well, at least with winter-fit (wind and chill proof) house and heater inside, or even only with heater, at least stove - these people won't die in such numbers as they are now.

at very least, if they can't build a decent house for each and every family - let them build some sort of one big barracks style building per village which would have one good stove wood or coal or any kind of available fuel (even dried cow dung) operated. that will be a lot less number than several millions - dont you agree? good stove made of bricks and clay, if fire properly maintained in it can give out sufficient heat to warm up big enough building for many hours. at least in worst times, people can gather in it and wait out the most severe weather. but now - what? they show reports on Thai TV - those hill tribes do their sort of spirits worship to please whoever they beileve in, to reduce the chill! and what government does? gives them blankets!

too funny!

this is not only in Thailand. in India people die from chill on the streets of cities - and that is not as cold as some Northern countries as Europe or US/ Canada but a country with tropical / subtropical climate.

Edited December 29, 2006 by aaaaaa