Doctors, medicines heading to Philippines
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Thai medics to man field hospital in region devastated by typhoon
The Public Health Ministry is expected to send 60 tonnes of medical supplies on an Air Force plane to the Philippines on Monday (Nov 18), with the government announcing yesterday it would initially provide Bt6 million to help people hit by Typhoon Haiyan.
Ministry permanent secretary Narong Sahamethapat said the ministry would also send three medical teams, each made up of 15 doctors, sanitation rehabilitation and mental-health experts – a total of 45 people – to set up a field hospital.
Assessing manpower
Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong said the ministry would hold a meeting today (Nov 15) to ensure the medical teams are ready. Each would stay in the typhoon-hit area for two weeks, and could travel after getting confirmation from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
After a meeting of agencies yesterday about aid to the Philippines, Department of International Economic Affairs chief Chutintorn Gongsakdi said that besides the Bt6 million, the Cabinet would next week consider dispatching an armed forces’ C130 aircraft with supplies and necessities to aid the survivors.
Other relief items would be sent via sea freight, which would take seven days to reach the typhoon-hit country, he said.
Thailand would also send 5,000 tonnes of rice via the Asean+3 (China, South Korea and Japan) mechanism, he said. Other needed items were canned food, drinking water, body bags and tents.
Chutintorn said Thailand would work with the World Food Programme to provide aid over six months – distributing food for two months, then working on rehabilitation for four months.
Donations sought
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, meanwhile, urged organisations and people to donate money for the victims via a Krungthai Bank saving account, number 067-0-09551-6, named the “Khon Thai Song Kamlangjai Chuayleu Philippines” (Thai people sending support to aid the Philippines).
Supreme Commander General Thanasak Pratimakorn said the military was discussing the fastest way to send aid and ensure it matches the needs of Filipino victims, while the armed forces was preparing the C-130 plane with necessities.
Army commander-in-chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha presented Bt930,000 to Colonel Reuben Basiao, the Philippines’ defence and armed forces attache in Thailand, to help the country respond to the crisis.
Prayuth also sent a letter to the Philippine army, expressing regret at the casualties and damage caused by Haiyan and offering Thai Army support upon request.
Prayuth instructed the Army’s disaster-mitigation centre to prepare medical supplies and military canine teams for search-and-rescue missions to be sent to the Philippines over the coming days.
Military engineer kits, plus others for producing drinking water, field tap-water systems and electrical generator sets were also ready if requested by the Foreign Affairs and Defence ministries, he said.
