Japanese ambassador hands over 7m-baht worth relief items to Thai PM
Japanese ambassador delivers 7 million baht in flood relief items to Thailand, strengthening ties between the two nations. Prime Minister Anutin thanks Japan for its swift support.
Japan’s generous donation for Thai flood relief
The Japanese ambassador to Thailand, Otaka Masato, handed over 7 million baht worth of relief items from the Japanese government to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday morning. Anutin, who also serves as the interior minister, expressed gratitude for Japan’s swift response in assisting Thai flood victims.
Relief items to aid flood victims in southern Thailand
The handover ceremony took place at Government House, with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) head Shunsuke Sakudo accompanying the ambassador. Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers Bowornsak Uwanno and Ekniti Nitithanprapas, along with officials from the Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office.
According to government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat, the donated relief items included:
- 150 large tents
- 3,000 sleeping pads
- 3,000 blankets
- 150 plastic sheets
- 500 plastic tanks for water storage
- 20 water filtering machines (each capable of producing 4 litres of clean water per second)
These items will be sent to the flood relief operation centre at the Finance Ministry for distribution to southern flood victims.
Anutin thanks Japan for its unwavering support
Prime Minister Anutin thanked the Japanese government, the Japanese Embassy, and JICA for their generous contribution. He expressed his appreciation for the swift and sincere action of Japan, reflecting the long-standing close ties and trust between the two countries.
Anutin assured the ambassador that the relief items would reach the flood victims as quickly as possible and pledged to improve the system for managing natural disasters in the future. He emphasized that measures would be taken to ensure prompt aid delivery with minimal impact on the affected communities.
Japan’s commitment to Thailand’s recovery
Ambassador Otaka reassured Anutin that Japan would always stand by Thailand in times of crisis. He explained that the relief items were given in the spirit of friendship and solidarity, which has existed between the two nations for many years. The ambassador also expressed hope that the items would ease the suffering of the victims and wished them a speedy recovery.
A history of mutual support during crises
The head of JICA's Bangkok office reminded Anutin of the long history of mutual aid between Thailand and Japan during times of crisis. He mentioned Thailand’s support for Japan during the Kumamoto earthquake and the 2011 Tohoku tsunami, as well as Japan’s assistance to Thailand following the 2004 tsunami and the devastating 2011 floods.
In conclusion, Anutin reiterated his gratitude to Japan, stating, “Japan’s kindness will always be remembered by the Thai people.” He emphasized that the two countries would continue to support one another during future crises.
