A local coalition of private companies and associations led by Securitas Thailand continued to bring relief to Thai flood victims, again delivering aid to inundated families in central Thailand and Bangkok, as well as necessities to children taking shelter in Pattaya.
The ‘Pattaya Relief Group’ has amongst its supporters the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Pattaya Sports Club, Pattaya Mail Media Group, St Andrews International School, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard and many more who have contributed in cash or kind.
Andy Emery (2nd right) and two members of the SECURITAS staff donate necessities to Pinya Jumroonsan (2nd left) from the Rangsit Babies Home.
At the November 21 committee briefing Steve Graham reported that the group has so far raised more than 1.3 million baht and have spent 555,000 baht on humanitarian aid for those suffering immeasurable hardships in the flooded areas.
Securitas coordinator Samran Naeprong said that on November 19, he joined the Pattaya Citizens 54 Group comprising of many businesses and organizations to deliver bags of relief supplies to flood victims in communities in Nakorn Pathom, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Chaisri, Nava Nakorn, Klong Luang, and Rangsit.
Bringing supplies to flood victims in Lantakfa, Nakorn Chaisri and Nakorn Pathom.
On November 15, Samran and Andy Emery of St. Andrews School, representing the group delivered formula milk, diapers, clothes, food and toiletries worth 50,000 baht for use by the children and infants from the Rangsit Babies Home who have taken refuge at the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Vocational School in Banglamung.
The children’s shelter is still soliciting more aid, requesting 10 high-pressure water machines for cleaning their present premises and at their home in Rangsit when they are able to return. They also need trolleys, long- and short-handled brushes and baskets.
Members of the ‘Pattaya Relief Group’ have been working hard to try to alleviate the suffering of Thailand’s flood victims.
As water levels begin to fall, the group has begun planning for the cleanup. Steve said, “More aid and assistance will be needed to return the inundated regions to normal. We have initiated more fundraising efforts to help with the post flood cleaning and renovation programs.”
Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan has been appointed as the coordinator for material donations and will be instrumental in advising the group on areas that need urgent help during and after the floods have receded.
Samran said, “If water recedes by next week, we have programs to help to clean up the Rangsit area. Our various sponsors are still looking for funds in purchasing consumer goods for helping, during the time that water has receded, to alleviate the sufferings for the victims.”
Cleanup in the Nonthaburi area, northwest of downtown Bangkok, will have to wait, however. While water is receding in the capital, Nonthaburi is still suffering from waist-deep water, due in large part to intentionally-closed sluice gates preventing floodwater from flowing into western Bangkok.
Residents from six Nonthaburi districts have become so angry they threatened this week to demolish the flood gates if government authorities refused to open them. They also demanded the resignation of Nonthaburi’s governor should the gates remain closed, leaving Bangkok dry while they suffer.
Chaiyanant Pantsirisod, a Nonthaburi flood victim who met with Pattaya Orphanage Director Radchada Chomjinda, said water there is not receding and that the entire area is stricken with shortages of everything from drinking water to diapers. Radchada donated 10,000 baht to Nonthaburi flood victims to obtain supplies elsewhere.
