The deaths of many Thai workers during the Hamas-Israel fighting caused concerns among families of those workers in Thailand, who are still waiting with hopes for the returns of their loved ones while many families can only hope for the bodies of those killed to come home for funerals.
In Nan province, Ms.Sunita Kongpirinan or Nid, 24 received tragic news from her husband’s friend in Israel. He called her to confirm the death of her husband, Mr. Thawatchai Saetao aka Seng. She tearfully said on Oct 7 they were celebrating their two-year-old son’s birthday via a video call.
He had promised to buy toys for their son with this month’s salary. During the conversation, he told her about a rocket attack near his workplace but he managed to take cover. He said he would go for a meal and she was unable to contact him since them until a friend of her husband called to inform her that her husband was shot by an armed group who invaded the camp on Oct 7.
They threw a grenade and opened fires at workers. Her husband was shot to death. Her phone call with her husband on their son’s birthday was their last talk and she did not know what to do. She still wants his body to be sent back home for proper burial in accordance with the tradition of the hill tribe people.
In Chiang Rai province, wives of two Thai workers are in grief after their husbands were confirmed having been killed in the attacks. Ms. Aree, the wife of Mr. Somchai recalled her last talk with him on the phone before he was unable to reach. Among all of about 20 workers at the camp where her husband stayed, 11 survive, three were shot dead, five were burned to death and four others were kidnapped.
Officials from the provincial Red Cross and other agencies give them emotional support and help check information for further assistance. In Chiang Rai province, there are more than 2,000 people, working in Israel. Many families have not been able to contact those workers. (TNA)
