Save the water buffalos!
Phasakorn Channgam
Executives from Securitas Security Services
(Thailand) Co. recently delivered 500 bags of disaster-relief supplies
to flood victims in Ayutthaya.
A Pattaya Mail reporter joined Accounting
Director Rungarun Haanarong, Installation Manager Wuthkrai Jaikon and
Sawang Boriboon Foundation Vice President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn in
the Oct. 30 journey to the inundated central Thailand province that has
been the epicenter of Thailand’s worst flooding in six decades.
Securitas Managing Director Steve Graham accepted the
responsibility of coordinating flood-relief efforts for Pattaya City
Hall, Sawang Boriboon and Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. They jointly funded
and gathered donations to purchase consumer goods, antibiotics and other
necessities for victims. Among the purchases were two 19-foot speedboats
for Sawang Boriboon rescuers to use.
The Pattaya group
distributes relief packages to households in the Klongjit community.
During the journey northward, Rungarun said the
relief bags were jointly packed by officials and employees from
Securitas. About 250,000 baht has been spent to fill 1,000 bags, with
half distributed on that trip.
He said the remaining 500 bags will be packed and
presented to Sawang Boriboon to be sent to Rong Klua Market in Bangkok.
Sawang Boriboon’s Sinchai Wattana- sartsathorn will lead that journey.
Heading into the disaster zone, determination was
easily visible on the group members’ faces as they put aside trouble
with the conditions and heat to distribute the relief supplies. Twenty
people had traveled from Securitas’ North Pattaya office. That tolls had
been suspended during that time made the journey easier, as did the
light traffic.
But entering Bangkok, the highway was cluttered by
cars parked above the waterline to avoid flood damage. Entering the
Bangkok-Ayutthaya Highway, flood damage and standing water became
evident, slowing the truck’s progress.
A quick lunch at the
relief center before beginning the task of delivering aid to flood
victims.
Finally, the relief group reached Rong Klua Market at
the Nava Nakorn-Phrainth Dam, where a evacuation center had been
established. Lunch was served for officials and employees of Securitas
Company and the relief bags were loaded for distribution. After eating,
the group set off on Route 32, traveling 12 kilometers from the
disaster’s center.
The goods were transferred onto boats that Securitas
had sponsored, as well as three foundation boats. They were still
necessary; although the water has receded some, it’s still too deep to
drive through.
As the convoy moved 500 meters into the heart of the
disaster zone, it became apparent how much the water has dropped. In
some areas it was now only knee-deep. Residents grateful to receive help
said they were not happy at the slow pace of the water level’s decline,
which has dropped only about 15 cm. since Oct. 11. Some areas still have
water four meters deep.
The crew unloads the boat
at the entrance to a flood ravaged community in Klongjit, Bangpa-in.
The boats resumed and group members called on
citizens to come and accept the aid. Those who could rowed out in boats.
Others remained camped out on rooftops with their pet dogs. Wild soi
dogs took shelter in old cars, trees and temples.
The group, with bags and medicine, then reached the
Klongjit School Relief Center, whose two buildings were filled with
about 100 refugees, all of whom received aid.
More bags were handed out to monks at Wiwekwawayupad
Temple, where the group gave the 26 monks 44 bags to be further
distributed to neighbors in need.
The mission moved on as far as the boats and supplies
could take them.
Group members said they were comforted that most
residents were still in good health, despite the conditions. It didn’t
eliminate the fatigue of the team, but it motivated them to return soon
for another relief mission.
Although the waters are
receding somewhat, it’s still too slow to offer any hope of a quick
solution.
Residents hear the boats
and climb out onto their roofs to great them.
Some of the folks in
Ayuthaya who were unable, or perhaps declined to evacuate, are now
living on their roofs to escape the flood waters.
Commerce continues:
Vendors who not long ago sold food from push carts are now selling from
old wooden boats, filling a need in the community.
Those lucky enough to
have even small boats can come out to greet the rescue workers. Others
need to wait and hope they aren’t forgotten.
Victims wade through chest
deep water to receive aid packages from the Pattaya crew.
A quiet paddle up Asia
Road - Lifestyles of the residents have completely changed because of
the flood.
