Foundation now accepting relief supplies for earthquake victims

PHUKET: The Thai-Nepalese Foundation is now accepting donations of relief supplies to aid the victims of the disastrous earthquake in Nepal, the foundation’s president confirmed today.

Supplies being collected by the foundation include clothing, medicine, tents (family size), gloves and sanitary napkins.

The death toll from last Saturday’s quake has risen to 6,204, The Nation reported today (story here).

“If you have a lot of supplies and are unable to transport them to the foundation, please call us. We will arrange to pick the items up,” Panuphong Limbuprasertkul, president of the foundation, told the Phuket Gazette today.

“Call me on my personal mobile number [089-871 4172] if you need any additional information. I am available 24 hours a day.”

Mr Panuphong speaks both Thai and English.

Items can be dropped off in Patong at the Phuket branch of the foundation, officially called the Shree Bhagawat Dhaam Sanatan Mandir Foundation, which is located in Soi Kuan Yang off of Phra Baramee Road.

“I have spoken with Thai Airways representatives, and they have agreed to help us transport the supplies. I am sorting out the date and time when we will fly them over. This should be finalized soon,” Mr Panuphong added.

A Thai Airways representative based in Phuket, who asked not to be named, confirmed to the Gazette that they were working together with the Nepalese consulate and the Shree Bhagawat Dhaam Sanatan Mandir Foundation to arrange the transport of supplies to the affected areas.

“We are willing to help in any way we can, we just need to know the date and what needs to be transported,” he said.

Members of the Shree Bhagawat Dhaam Sanatan Mandir Foundation also walked along Bangla Road in Patong last night to collect donations to add to their ever-growing aid fund.

“We raised about 20,000 baht on Bangla Road last night. We now have more than 1 million baht raised to help survivors of the earthquake,” Mr Panuphong said.

Monetary donations to the ‘Phuket Together For Nepal Disaster Victims’ fund can be made at the Damrongtham Center (ombudsman’s office) at Phuket Provincial Hall; directly at the Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket Town; at the Phuket Red Cross Center at Saphan Hin; or any government office on the island.

Donations can also be made directly into either of the following accounts:

Krung Thai Bank, bank account number 8050669254
Kasikornbank [Kbank], account number 5322397730

— Chutharat Plerin