OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Thailand - Floods
9 June 2006


This situation report is based on the information received from OCHA 
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) in Bangkok as of 7 June.

Situation

1.  Heavy rains that started on 21 May caused severe flash floods and 
landslides in five provinces of Nan, Phrae, Lamphang, Uttaradit and 
Sukhothai in northern part of Thailand. The flooding situation has 
improved in the provinces of Nan, Phrae, Lamphang, Uttaradit. In 
Sukhotai Province, agricultural lands in 102 villages near the Yom River 
are still submerged but the water level is gradually decreasing.

2.  The Yom River is reportedly overflowing in two provinces located in 
its lower reaches of the river. In Phitsanulok provinces, a total of 
2,433 villages in three districts were submerged.

  3.  Losses and casualties as of 7 June :

- 83 persons dead (71 in Uttaradit, 7 in Sukhothai, 5 in Phrae)
- 33 missing (32 in Uttaradit and 1 in Sukhothai)
- 342,895 people affected (106,304 families)
- 697 houses completely destroyed
- 11,601 people evacuated
- 971 roads and 181 bridges damaged


National Response

4.  Search and rescue operations were still continuing in Uttaradit 
Province. A total of 140 members from the Thai Navy, Marine Police, the 
Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) and other 
national and local agencies as well as volunteer groups and local 
villagers have been mobilized.

5.  According to the DDPM's initial survey and assessment, the damage 
caused by the flood is about THB 308,615,331(approximately USD 8.1 
million). The amount does not include villagers' damaged properties and 
personal belongings.

6.  The Government decided to allocate THB 2,407,342,843 (approximately 
USD 63.15 million) as the Flood Relief Fund for the northern five 
affected provinces.

7.  The Ministry of Labour was going to look for jobs for victims and 
ensure that they receive the guaranteed daily wage for one month. The 
Government also provide compensation to farmers, farms and industries, 
persons who lost their houses.

International Response

8.  OCHA has released an OCHA emergency cash grant of USD 25,000 and 
another emergency cash grant of USD 26,000 from the Norwegian Grant 
Reserve, administrated by OCHA for purchasing relief items and materials 
for temporary shelter.

9.  The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has released USD 
50,000 to support and enhance ongoing relief efforts of the Government. 
In addition to immediate relief support, UNDP will also work in 
collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security 
to facilitate construction of permanent housing for flood victims.

10.  OCHA is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's Office 
in Bangkok and will revert with further information as it becomes 
available. This situation report, together with further information on 
ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at 
http://www.reliefweb.int.

Tel.:  +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 0023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

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

Desk Officer:
  Mr. Masaaki Nakagawa, direct Tel. +41-22-917 4034

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126

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