Thai envoys told to provide correct info
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Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul has instructed Thai ambassadors in 21 countries, where travel warnings have been issued against Thailand, to ensure that the public is given accurate information, ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said yesterday
Thai nationals living overseas have been invited to donate money and relief items via Thai embassies and so far, more than Bt4 million has been collected in donations, Thani said.
Surapong said three countries were helping out via the Thai Red Cross Society, namely China, which is donating US$1 million (Bt31 million) in cash as well as relief items worth Bt50 million; New Zealand is sending NZ$100,000 (Bt2.4 million); and the United States is donating $100,000. Japan also said that it would send disaster relief items worth Bt12 million via the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The foreign minister said he had been given the job of seeking technical assistance from the US, China and Japan in relation to rehabilitation efforts.
Meanwhile, Fine Arts Department chief Somsuda Leyavanija said Unesco voiced sympathy and promised to provide $75,000, some of which would be spent on repairing ancient sites in Ayutthaya once the floods recede.
