Andy Emery
(2nd right) and two members of the SECURITAS staff donate necessities to
Pinya Jumroonsan (2nd left) from the Rangsit Babies Home.
Staff Reporters
A local coalition of private companies and
associations led by Securitas Thailand continued to bring relief to Thai
flood victims, again delivering aid to inundated families in central
Thailand and Bangkok, as well as necessities to children taking shelter
in Pattaya.
The ‘Pattaya Relief Group’ has amongst its supporters
the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, Rotary Club of
Jomtien-Pattaya, Pattaya Sports Club, Pattaya Mail Media Group,
St Andrews International School, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Rotary Club
Eastern Seaboard and many more who have contributed in cash or kind.
Bringing supplies to
flood victims in Lantakfa, Nakorn Chaisri and Nakorn Pathom.
At the November 21 committee briefing Steve Graham
reported that the group has so far raised more than 1.3 million baht and
have spent 555,000 baht on humanitarian aid for those suffering
immeasurable hardships in the flooded areas.
Securitas coordinator Samran Naeprong said that on
November 19, he joined the Pattaya Citizens 54 Group comprising of many
businesses and organizations to deliver bags of relief supplies to flood
victims in communities in Nakorn Pathom, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Chaisri, Nava
Nakorn, Klong Luang, and Rangsit.
On November 15, Samran and Andy Emery of St. Andrews
School, representing the group delivered formula milk, diapers, clothes,
food and toiletries worth 50,000 baht for use by the children and
infants from the Rangsit Babies Home who have taken refuge at the HRH
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Vocational School in Banglamung.
The children’s shelter is still soliciting more aid,
requesting 10 high-pressure water machines for cleaning their present
premises and at their home in Rangsit when they are able to return. They
also need trolleys, long- and short-handled brushes and baskets.
Members of the ‘Pattaya
Relief Group’ have been working hard to try to alleviate the suffering
of Thailand’s flood victims.
As water levels begin to fall, the group has begun
planning for the cleanup. Steve said, “More aid and assistance will be
needed to return the inundated regions to normal. We have initiated more
fundraising efforts to help with the post flood cleaning and renovation
programs.”
Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan has been appointed as
the coordinator for material donations and will be instrumental in
advising the group on areas that need urgent help during and after the
floods have receded.
Samran said, “If water recedes by next week, we have
programs to help to clean up the Rangsit area. Our various sponsors are
still looking for funds in purchasing consumer goods for helping, during
the time that water has receded, to alleviate the sufferings for the
victims.”
Cleanup in the Nonthaburi area, northwest of downtown
Bangkok, will have to wait, however. While water is receding in the
capital, Nonthaburi is still suffering from waist-deep water, due in
large part to intentionally-closed sluice gates preventing floodwater
from flowing into western Bangkok.
Residents from six Nonthaburi districts have become
so angry they threatened this week to demolish the flood gates if
government authorities refused to open them. They also demanded the
resignation of Nonthaburi’s governor should the gates remain closed,
leaving Bangkok dry while they suffer.
Chaiyanant Pantsirisod, a Nonthaburi flood victim who
met with Pattaya Orphanage Director Radchada Chomjinda, said water there
is not receding and that the entire area is stricken with shortages of
everything from drinking water to diapers. Radchada donated 10,000 baht
to Nonthaburi flood victims to obtain supplies elsewhere.
