Thailand announces 9,000 baht aid for southern flood victims
The Government of Thailand is set to provide financial relief to families impacted by the recent floods in the southern region, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced.
Each affected household is expected to receive a compensation of 9,000 baht, mirroring the assistance given to flood-stricken families in the northern part of the country.
Anutin, who also serves as Interior Minister, expressed optimism about the flood situation, citing weather forecasts that indicate a reduction in rainfall.
Local agencies are currently evaluating the extent of the damage, which includes both residential properties and public infrastructure.
In response to the crisis, the government has allocated 70 million baht for immediate emergency use in the affected provinces. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is actively collaborating with regional agencies in areas officially designated as disaster zones, said Anutin.
“In principle, the payment of 9,000 baht per household should be applied to the south just as it was for those hit by floods in the north.”
Should the proposal gain cabinet approval, funds will be directly deposited into the accounts of those affected by the floods. Phatsakorn Bunyalak, the Director General of DDPM, highlighted that the intense rainfall, which began November 28, has resulted in the most severe flooding seen in the southern region in decades.
The disaster has submerged 640,581 homes across 87 districts in 10 provinces, leading to the tragic loss of 12 lives. Many townships remain submerged, with residents stranded and in need of assistance.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is scheduled to visit the flood-hit areas of Songkhla and Pattani on December 6. In a move to expedite aid, she has instructed Prommin Lertsuridej, the Bangkok-born PM’s secretary-general, to accelerate assistance efforts.
In parallel, the Ministry of Finance is mobilising state financial institutions, including the Government Savings Bank, to offer 50 billion baht in soft loans.
These loans, coupled with favourable interest rates, aim to support individuals and businesses in recovering from the flood’s aftermath, according to Lavaron Sangsnit, the ministry’s permanent secretary.
The ministry is also rolling out several debt relief measures, which include interest rate reductions and extended repayment terms, to further ease the financial burden faced by flood victims, reported Bangkok Post.
