Thai Cabinet approves 5 billion baht flood aid for 16 provinces
The Thai Cabinet has sanctioned a budget of 5 billion baht to aid households in 16 more provinces beset by recent flooding, expanding the scope of assistance previously extended to other affected areas.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced that every flood-impacted household within these 16 provinces, including several in the southern region, will receive a uniform payout of 9,000 baht (US$260).
This measure mirrors the relief provided to households across 57 provinces previously afflicted by floods. The Thai premier assured that the Interior Ministry, the proponent of this financial aid, is committed to expediting the distribution process to reach those in need swiftly.
The Cabinet’s decision reflects a shift in the criteria for flood compensation. Previously, payouts varied based on the duration a household was submerged: 5,000 baht (US$145) for up to 30 days, 7,000 baht (US$203) for 30 to 60 days, and 9,000 baht (US$260) for over 60 days. Now, a flat rate of 9,000 baht (US$260) is designated for all eligible households, simplifying the compensation process, the 38 year old Thai prime minister said.
“The Cabinet has also decided to increase flood relief budgets for six southern provinces.”
This increase raises the allocation from 20 million baht (US$581,344) to 50 million baht (US$1.45 million) per province, benefiting Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat.
Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong noted that the heavy flooding in the south has toppled several telecommunication transmission poles, leading to signal disruptions. Efforts are underway, he said, to collaborate with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission and service providers to restore communication capabilities, ensuring residents can stay connected, reported Bangkok Post.
Phatsakorn Bunyalak, the Director General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, reported flooding incidents from November 23 to December 3 across 10 southern provinces.
Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat were affected by continuous heavy rain, inundating 3,729 communities in 87 districts.
This disaster has impacted 664,173 households and resulted in 25 confirmed fatalities.
