BANGKOK, 16 September 2012 – Thailand has donated two million baht to Myanmar to support relief and rehabilitation efforts in that country which has been struck by disastrous floods since August 2012.
The money was presented to Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand Tin Win on Friday, September 14, by Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release, many parts of Myanmar were struck by the flood disaster, especially in some parts of Yangon, Irrawaddy, Bago and Tenasserim, resulting in the evacuation of approximately 70,000-85,000 people as well as heavy damages to various rice plantations across the country.
The release said the assistance demonstrates the goodwill and friendship Thailand, as a close neighbor, has towards Myanmar. At the donation-presenting ceremony, the Myanmar Ambassador expressed his thanks and appreciation towards Thailand’s contribution, as well as support at bilateral, regional and multilateral frameworks. He also took this opportunity to express his condolences towards the recent flooding in Sukhothai Province.
The Government of Myanmar earlier assisted Thailand with 50,000 USD in cash and over 15 tons of relief supplies to help Thai people cope with results of the flood crisis at the end of 2011.