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15 May 2001 by Onpreeya Visessiri, Bangkok The Thai Red Cross has come to the aid of thousands of people after torrential rain and storms in northern Thailand last week destroyed livestock, crops and hundreds of homes. At least 33 people were killed and another 12 went missing as flash floods and landslides resulting from the early monsoon rains, hit seven provinces in northern Thailand and Yala province in the south. More than 30,000 villagers were affected in the eight provinces. Thai Red Cross branches responded immediately to to the needs of flood victims, working with government authorities to distribute relief items to the most affected families and helping to transfer them to evacuation centres. Some villages were temporarily inaccessible as roads and bridges were cut off by the waters. According to Thailand's Civil Defence Department, more than 35,000 rai (one rai is equivalent to 1,600 square metres) of agricultural land was damaged. "Red Cross volunteers distributed emergency food rations, drinking water, mosquito nets and blankets to the most affected victims so their immediate needs could be met," said Sakorn Ratanasin, from the Thai Red Cross' Relief and Community Bureau. More than 1,200 household kits and 1,000 medical kits were also handed out. The Thai government's Local Administration Department will supply plans for the construction of new homes for those whose houses were completely destroyed. Each house will cost about USD 650 to build. Authorities estimate the total cost of damage to nearly USD 4.5 million with much of the blame on the extent of damage being placed on illegal logging and the heavy deforestation of the land. Phrae, the worst affected province where 29 people died, has not seen floods before but has seen its forests severely depleted in recent years. Early monsoon rains have also affected 15 other Thai provinces in the north and north-east of the country causing more than USD 50,000 worth of damage. The flash floods and storms follow a drought at the beginning of the month in the north-eastern province of Mahasarakham where more than 420,000 were affected. The Thai Red Cross' Mahasarakham branch, in coordination with the provincial government, has also distributed food and drinking water worth USD 66,000 to the affected villagers. |
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Visitors
from other districts bring food and other supplies for homeless flood
victims in Phrae province . (p6489)
