Gudmund Eiksund (centre right),
president of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya presents a cheque of 200,000
baht to Steve Graham, chair of the Pattaya Relief Group for use in the joint
humanitarian relief effort. Standing center rear are city councilor Banlue
Kullavanich, Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn and Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh.
Staff reporters
Following the decision to go forward with relief missions to help the victims of
the massive flooding in northern and central provinces of Thailand, the Pattaya
Relief Group headed by Steve Graham, MD of Securitas Thailand approved the
purchase of a 19 foot speedboat equipped with a 40 horsepower outboard motor
valued at 230,000 baht. The boat was bought on October 12 and delivered to the
Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation within 24 hours.
Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn, vice president of Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan
Foundation said that the boat along with 6 other rescue boats left for Ayutthaya
without delay where thousands of food packages and more than 5000 sets of
medicine kits including 200 flashlights were successfully distributed to the ill
fated residents of Thailand’s most revered historical landmark province.
Neera Sirisamphan (3rd left) and
Steve Graham (5th left) present their respective donations to Pol. Col. Choosak
Panusamporn commander of Chonburi Immigration for their flood relief efforts.
The Pattaya Relief Group (PRG) bought one smaller motorized
boat for rescue missions in the Po Sarmton district of Ayutthaya province where
residents have been stranded for weeks, many still waiting for supplies of food
and water. Another boat was also donated to the villagers in Ban Na Po in Amphur
Bangprahan district for the same purpose.
The startup PRG which comprises of Securitas Thailand, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya,
Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, Pattaya
City Hall and Pattaya Mail Media Group is also of the conviction that all money
donated into the Pattaya Relief Fund will be shared amongst other well
intentioned organizations who are also active in the relief operations to help
the alleviate the sufferings of the unfortunate people.
To this end on October 13, Steve Graham along with Neerachorn Sirisamphan,
business development director of the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya met with Pol. Col.
Choosak Panusamporn, commander of Chonburi Immigration to assist him in the
relief efforts that his department is also involved in. Graham donated 50,000
baht and Neerachorn donated 250 medical kits on behalf of the hospital.
The sleek and sturdy 19 foot
vessel adorned in the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation colours, a day
before she left on her maiden humanitarian mission.
On Monday October 17, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and city
councilor Banlue Kullavanich hosted a meeting at city hall where the Pattaya
Relief Group led a delegation to meet and brief city officials of action taken
so far and exchange ideas of what could be done in the near future.
Ronakit thanked the group on behalf of the mayor for their profound sacrifices
and commitment to help the flood stricken people of Thailand. He said that the
mayor himself was on a mission to Ayutthaya where the city in association with
the Jomtien Boating Association have set sail to the flooded province in a
flotilla of 2 speed boats and 5 jet skis to deliver supplies to the people
there.
Attending the meeting were President Gudmund Eiksund of the Rotary Club of
Jomtien-Pattaya and Dieter Reigber the club treasurer. Gudmund said, “I am so
sorry to hear of the suffering of so many people in Thailand. Our club has
accumulated funds through our various fund raising projects and one part of it
is always saved into what we call a ‘Disaster Fund’. Throughout the years we
have contributed to various humanitarian projects to help flood and quake
victims in Thailand and abroad.” With that he and his treasurer wrote a cheque
for 200,000 baht which was handed over to the committee chair for use in this
humanitarian mission. “Our members are ready to take part in the rehabilitation
process and I will join the team to Ayutthaya when we go there to access the
needs of the people during the rebuilding phase.”
Sinchai said, “The government is now slowly getting a grip on handling the
distribution of relief goods, but we will still venture into areas that call for
help.”
The committee decided that a concerted effort will be made after the floods
subside, to go into the affected areas and make a survey of how they could help
in the rebuilding and rehabilitation of people’s livelihoods which has been
badly affected by weeks if not months of hellish conditions.
“We will help as many people as we can to get back on their feet and start
rebuilding their lives again” said Steve. “We will look into helping repair or
rebuild schools, hospitals and most especially help those who have lost
everything so that they can start making a living to support their families.”
The Pattaya Relief Group welcomes corporate and individuals to participate in
this joint effort by pledging donations in cash and kind. A report on the
progress of this joint Pattaya humanitarian effort will be published on a
regular basis in the Pattaya Mail. For more information or to pledge your
support please contact: [email protected].
