Thai Border Community Donates Aid Worth 750 Million Kyats To Burma’s Flood Victims

Thai people from Thailand’s border province of Tak, have donated aid worth 750 million kyat in relief items through the Mae Sot-Myawaddy border crossing in Karen State for the people affected by the severe flooding throughout Burma.

Mr Sumchai Katiyasanti, governor of Tak province, said all districts in Tak have contributed to the aid effort.

“People from all the nine districts in Tak are helping our Burmese friends affected by the flood. We feel sorry for those severely impacted by the floods in Myanmar. This is the reason why we are donating relief materials.”

The relief materials food, medicine and clothing worth around 2.5 million baht was donated on August 5 and Thai donors said they would continue donating.

The governor of Tak province delivered the aid to Myawaddy’s district chief administrator, U Ko Lwin.

Speaking to the Thai and Burmese media, U Ko Lwin said, “We will send these relief materials to the Karen State government. From there it will be sent out quickly to the civilians affected by the flood.”

Burma has been hammered by severe flooding caused by continuous heavy rain during July and early August. It has been reported that as many as 60 deaths and over 200,000 people are directly affected by the flood.

According to NGOs working on the relief, although water has retreated from Arakan state and some regions, the flood hit civilians are facing a severe shortage of food and clean drinking water.

The flood is the worst to hit Burma in the last 24-years and the Burmese government has already asked the international community for aid. The government has prepared Mandalay and Nay Pyi Daw airports for international flights carrying aid.

The Thai community and Burmese people and community groups living in Thailand have set up relief centers to collect and accept aid and donations for people affected by the flooding.