Church partners respond to Thailand’s flood disaster

A church and its partners are responding to Thailand’s worst floods in decades in and around its capital, Bangkok, and asking for support for relief aid to the victims.

“Please remember the flood victims in Thailand and the work of the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) in your daily prayers,” said Prawate Khid-arn, Acting Manager of the Office of CCT Policy Management in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The Reuters news agency reported on October 25 that at least 366 people had been killed since heavy monsoon rains started in July. Flooding has affected 2.5 million people and could swamp more of densely populated Bangkok, if water flowing from the north and heavy rain cause canals to burst their banks.

Khid-arn reported that CCT teams have distributed 1,200 relief bags that include rice, water, dry food and some medicines, to victims in central Thailand and there are plans to return to the affected areas this week.

For long-term rehabilitation, he said, ecumenical organisations such as Church World Service, Norwegian Church Aid, and the Christian Conference of Asia met with the CCT in Chiang Mai on October 14. Khid-arn then reported that the CCT had approved an additional 200,000 Baht, or about US$6,000, for humanitarian assistance.

“What makes us happy is that various people — office workers, students, artists, singers, teachers, medical doctors, nurses and volunteers — express sympathy and do the best in solidarity with the victims,” Khid-arn said.

Tearfund reported that CCT has been distributing water and more than 1,000 cooked lunches and dinners to 500 people each day. At one house, food was delivered to the second floor, where as many as 23 people had taken refuge.

Church World Service, a US-based Christian relief organisation which is responding as a member of the ACT Alliance, said, that CWS-supported members of CCT’s team are also distributing food in Bangkok.

By Hisashi Yukimoto, Ecumenical News International