UNHCR donates cash, lamps to Thai flood survivors
Play
The UN refugee agency is donating cash and solar lamps to Thais affected by the worst floods in 50 years as a gesture of gratitude for the country's hospitality in hosting refugees for nearly four decades.
“Even though the Thai government has not asked UNHCR for assistance, we wanted to offer our help as an acknowledgement of all Thailand has done to shelter and protect more than a million refugees over the years,” said James Lynch, UNHCR’s representative in Thailand.
UNHCR is donating 5,000 special ecofriendly solar lamps worth US$250,000 (Bt7.5 million) to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ministry of Interior to distribute to floods survivors in remote areas where electricity has been lost. UNHCR distributed similar lanterns to the area of Japan hit by earthquake and tsunami in March this year. UNHCR will also make its own cash donation of $50,000 or Bt1.5 million.
The Nation
