OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Thailand - Floods
10 October 2002


This report is based on information provided by the Office of the UN
Resident Coordinator in Bangkok as well as the media.

1.  Situation and Damage

In August, September and October 2002, Thailand was repeatedly hit by
flash floods and landslides due to torrential monsoon rains. Initially the
floods and landslides affected northern Thailand but since late September
most of Thailand, including Bangkok, has been deluged. According to media
reports the waters are receding, but the situation is still unpredictable.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) has issued warnings about the
possible risks of flood-borne diseases such as conjunctivitis, diarrhoea
and leptospirosis.


Areas still affected are located in 42 provinces as follows:

Northern Region: 13 provinces, namely Tak, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai,
Lumpoon, Sukhothai, Pitsanulok, Mae Hong Son, Ut-taradit, Phetchaboon,
Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet and Utai Thani

Northeastern Region:  15 provinces, namely Sakon Nakhon, Khon Kaen,
Chaiyapoom, Nongkhai, Kalasin, Nakhonpanom, Nong Bua Lampoo, Roi-et, Sri
Saket, U-bonratchathani, Maha Sarakarm, Yasothorn, Surin, Buriram and
Nakhon Ratchasima

Central and Eastern Region:  14 provinces, namely Lopburi, Kanchanaburi,
Angthong, Singburi, Saraburi, Ayuthaya, Pathum Thani, Chainat, Rachaburi,
Suphanburi, Nonthaburi, Nakorn Prathom, Prachinburi and Nakorn Nayok

A total of 11,726 villages, 2610 sub-districts, 55 King Amphoe (Mini
Districts), and 514 have been affected.


Damages / Losses

- 128 deaths (in 33 provinces), of which 66 are directly attributed
  to flooding
- 62 people injured / ill
- 3,289,358 people from 891,290 households affected
- A total of 31,772 people from 14,351 households evacuated
- 8,881 roads, 355 bridges, 994 dams/weirs, 526 drainage canals damaged
- 7,887,213 Rai of Agricultural land and 60,246 fish/ shrimp ponds
  damaged (1 rai=0.16 ha)
- 1,030 houses completely destroyed and 63,303 damaged
- 1,801,248 livestock animals affected
- 1,453 government buildings, temples and schools affected

Total damages have been estimated at THB 1,565,772,670 (1 USD=43 THB).


2.  Government response and relief efforts

- Distribution of 704,399 sets of consumer goods, 1,789,820 bottles of
  drinking water, 201,150 boxes of rice, 98,839 sets of medicines, 821
  flat bottom boats, 5,531,342 sandbags, 786 water pumps, and 326,000 kg
  of forage for livestock
- 28 bridges built
- Mobile clinics made 266 trips
- Total budgetary assistance for relief purposes amounting to
  THB 814,132,596
- Donations from the public through DOLA amounted to THB 2,813,905 from
  6 September - 7 October 2002.


3.  No request for international assistance has been issued by the Thai
Government.

4.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva,
as indicated below, of relief missions/pledges/contributions and their
corresponding values by item.

5.  OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the UN Resident
Coordinator in Thailand.

6.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int



Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Rudolf Muller / Ms. Marie Spaak / Mr. Soichi Nakajima
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3131 / 17 28 / 4034

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  (NYC)  Brian Grogan direct Tel. +1-212-963-1143


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