Flood Relief Measures

Due to the present flood situation in Thailand, the Royal Thai Government has approved flood relief measures which include:

1. Financial package of 325 billion Baht (BHT) for assisting affected businesses and households.
2. Rehabilitation programs for businesses.
3. Comprehensive work plan for reconstruction and implementation of long-term flood-prevention system, which involves all ministries.

The Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industry and all Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand can access updated information on the flood situation, which include the FROC’s (Flood Relief Operation Center) announcements at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website http://www.mfa.go.th/web/3082.php

Last update 26 October 2011

To alleviate the present flood situation and prevent its recurrence, during the Cabinet meeting on 18 October 2011, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra instructed the relevant ministers to carry out their responsibilities in an integrated manner in four phases. Gist as follow: 

• In the immediate term, provincial governors have full authority to issue orders to resolve problems to alleviate the flood situation. The Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces will supervise operations in the severely affected provinces assigned.
• In severely flooded areas and for people living in flood affected areas longer than 4-6 weeks, all relevant government agencies must ensure the safety and the well-being of flood victims, be they living in their homes or in temporary shelters and provide job skills to generate alternative means of income as well as assist in the victim’s mental rehabilitation.
• In preparation for the period once the flood recedes, the three committees on rehabilitation established must ensure a speedy rehabilitation and recovery process. The ministries involved are the Minister of Transport for infrastructure rehabilitation; Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Commerce for economic rehabilitation and Deputy Prime Minister Police General Kowit Wattana, responsible for social rehabilitation.
• In the long term, preventive measures of disasters must be revised and integrated. Deputy Prime Minister Yongyoot Wichaidit will supervise this effort and ensure that all relevant ministries must formulate clear work plans, such as construction of water retention areas, water dykes, improving public amenities and transport routes, and revision of location and layout of industrial estates.

The Royal Thai Government is determined to help rehabilitate industries affected by the floods as quickly as possible.

The Governor is considering to develop a national recovery plan, particularly an integrated water management to prevent the recurrence of such flooding, also inviting experts from various agencies and experienced specialists from abroad to conduct a joint study and long term planning with a view to achieve a sustained solution to natural disaster.