Bangkok Post
ANG THONG : The United States has sent a team of disaster experts to the country to assess flood devastation and will send at least six Seahawk helicopters to airlift heavy items for flood relief.
The US would draw on know-how from the Federal Emergency Management Administration to help Thailand with its flood relief efforts said Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.
The US ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney greeted the US marines' humanitarian aid team and the US Agency for International Developmentdisaster assistance team at Don Mueang airport yesterday.
The team also gave 18,000 sand bags to the government.
The experts will submit a report of devastation assessment to the US government to see what type of aid the country can offer.
The team will work with the Thai government and non-governmental organisations to see how the US can help, the ambassador wrote on her Twitter page.
She also expressed sympathy for flood victims.
Mr Surapong said during a visit to flooded Ang Thong province yesterday that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had asked him to liaise with Washington.
A Foreign Ministry team stationed at the Don Mueang flood relief operation centre held a video conference with Washington on Friday night and learned that the first six helicopters would be sent in 48 hours.
The helicopters would help airlift heavy concrete slabs or containers to prevent flooding. If equipped with an infrared sensor system, they could detect whether people were stranded in deeply inundated areas.
If the flood situation did not subside within three to five days, the US would send another 20 helicopters.
Mr Surapong brought a Foreign Ministry delegation to deliver two million baht aid to hospitals and schools and two motor boats worth 500,000 baht to Ang Thong.
"Next year we will face no hiccups and there should be no confusion in our flood relief effort," said Mr Surapong.
Governor Visava Sasismit said boats donated by China were useful, but the province still needed more tents, paddle boats and floating toilets. Over 90 schools, 129 temples and 25,000 people in seven districts are hit by the floods including 7,000 farmers on 98,000 rai of farmland.
Meanwhile, about 200 villagers from tambon Sala Daeng gathered in Muang district and destroyed part of a dyke protecting Ang Thong-Pho Phraya road to release floodwater from their area. Mr Visava negotiated with villagers and agreed to release some of the water.
ANG THONG : The United States has sent a team of disaster experts to the country to assess flood devastation and will send at least six Seahawk helicopters to airlift heavy items for flood relief.
The US would draw on know-how from the Federal Emergency Management Administration to help Thailand with its flood relief efforts said Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.
The US ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney greeted the US marines' humanitarian aid team and the US Agency for International Developmentdisaster assistance team at Don Mueang airport yesterday.
The team also gave 18,000 sand bags to the government.
The experts will submit a report of devastation assessment to the US government to see what type of aid the country can offer.
The team will work with the Thai government and non-governmental organisations to see how the US can help, the ambassador wrote on her Twitter page.
She also expressed sympathy for flood victims.
Mr Surapong said during a visit to flooded Ang Thong province yesterday that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had asked him to liaise with Washington.
A Foreign Ministry team stationed at the Don Mueang flood relief operation centre held a video conference with Washington on Friday night and learned that the first six helicopters would be sent in 48 hours.
The helicopters would help airlift heavy concrete slabs or containers to prevent flooding. If equipped with an infrared sensor system, they could detect whether people were stranded in deeply inundated areas.
If the flood situation did not subside within three to five days, the US would send another 20 helicopters.
Mr Surapong brought a Foreign Ministry delegation to deliver two million baht aid to hospitals and schools and two motor boats worth 500,000 baht to Ang Thong.
"Next year we will face no hiccups and there should be no confusion in our flood relief effort," said Mr Surapong.
Governor Visava Sasismit said boats donated by China were useful, but the province still needed more tents, paddle boats and floating toilets. Over 90 schools, 129 temples and 25,000 people in seven districts are hit by the floods including 7,000 farmers on 98,000 rai of farmland.
Meanwhile, about 200 villagers from tambon Sala Daeng gathered in Muang district and destroyed part of a dyke protecting Ang Thong-Pho Phraya road to release floodwater from their area. Mr Visava negotiated with villagers and agreed to release some of the water.
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