Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has entrusted the Ministry of Defence to set up a coordinating center on use of aircraft for flood relief operations and has also ordered the Thai Armed Forces Headquarters to act as the center for search & rescue operations.
According to the Flood Relief Operations Center (FROC), the Use of Aircraft Coordinating Center of the Ministry of Defence will coordinate with foreign countries which have offered to send airplanes and disaster experts to help flood-affected people in Thailand. The new center will also take care of air traffic arrangement for the visiting planes.
Prime Minister Yingluck earlier announced that the United States promised to send 28 Hawk Eye aircraft to Thailand to help in the survey and evacuation of flood-hit people and in the removal of affected industrial equipment. The Royal Thai Air Force and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been assigned to work together to facilitate foreign aircraft and experts sent in to help Thai flood victims.
Meanwhile, the Search & Rescue center of the Thai Armed Forces Headquarters will act as the center of cooperation in searching for flood victims in various parts of the country. The center will integrate its operations with both government and private sector units to ensure efficiency.
