Laos assist 1.5 million baht to help Thailand in fighting flood

The Lao government presented 1.5 million baht to the government of Thailand on October 13 as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the victims of the recent flooding there, according to the Lao Embassy to Thailand.

The money was handed over by Lao Ambassador to Thailand Ouan Phommachack on behalf of the Lao government to Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok.

Mr Ouan said “While it is not a large sum of money, it reflects the spirit of the government and people of Laos, who want to help Thai people affected by flooding.”

Mr Surapong said the a mount was not important, but what was significant was the spirit of the people of both nations in their concern and desire to help each other in times of difficulty. He expressed his gratitude to the government and people of Laos and said he would inform the Thai prime minister and people about Laos' show of support.

The Nation newspaper's website reported that Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has assured the public the government is doing all it possibly can to tackle the country's worst flood disaster in history and in her weekly radio programme said they would be providing assistance to victims of the flooding. Currently there are 56 flood-affected provinces, but 10 provinces were among the hardest hit, namely Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Lop Buri, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani and Chachoengsao.

The Thai government's Flood Relief Operations Command has received over 400 million baht in donations so far, which will be distributed among victims of the flooding.

China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Israel, Denmark and the United States had offered assistance, Ms Yingluck said.

Vientianetimes