OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Thailand: Floods
13 October 2006


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

Situation

1.  Thailand has been badly affected by floods from several storms and 
Typhoon Xangsane, which turned into a tropical depression in the 
country. Out of 75 provinces, 46 provinces were inundated of which 18 
provinces are still submerged as water level of major rivers remains 
high or overflows. According to the Ministry of Public Health, the most 
affected provinces are Phra Nakhon Si Ayuttaya, Nakkon Sawan and 
Sukkothai.

2.  As of 13 October, Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and 
Mitigation (DDPM) reports that 47 people have been killed, two are 
missing and more than 2.4 million people have been affected to various 
degrees (see table below). According to the Ministry of Education, a 
total of 378 schools in 21 provinces were affected, of which 310 are 
still closed. The loss is estimated at THB 305,289,193 (approximately 
USD 8.137 million).

Region Provinces

|---------------+----------------------------------------------------------|
| Region        |                        Provinces                         |
|---------------+----------------------------------------------------------|
| North         |Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Lampang,   |
|               |Phrae, Phayao, Uttaradit, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok,        |
|               |Sukhothai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani,|
|               |Phichit                                                   |
|---------------+----------------------------------------------------------|
| Central Plain |Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Angthong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayuttaya,   |
|               |Lop Buri, Suphan Buri, Saraburi, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi,|
|               |Nakhon Patgom, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengasao, Prachin Buri, |
|               |Bangkok                                                   |
|---------------+----------------------------------------------------------|
| East          |Chonburi, Chanthaburi,Trat                                |
|---------------+----------------------------------------------------------|
| Northeast     |Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Udon Thai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Si Sa|
|               |Ket, Buri Ram, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon          |
|---------------+----------------------------------------------------------|
| South         |Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phang Nga     |
|---------------+----------------------------------------------------------|


3.  The Thailand Meteorological Department issued a warning that people 
in the risky areas of lower central and southern Thailand should be 
aware of heavy rain and flooding conditions during 11 - 15 October. 
Widespread rain with isolated heavy fall is expected in the south, while 
there will be a decrease in rain for northern, north eastern, central 
and eastern Thailand.

National Response

4.  The government has not requested any international assistance 
officially.

5.  Following the King's recent permission for the use of his private 
lands to retain diverted excess water from the Chao Phraya River to ease 
flood damages in Bangkok and its vicinity, a number of villagers in the 
province also allowed the use of their lands for the same purpose. 
However, there has been opposition from some farmers for the 
transformation of farmlands into permanent water retention ponds to ease 
seasonal flood damages. The government has promised compensation for 
land use.

6.  As one of the immediate measures to ease the recurrent floods is to 
transform farmlands in provinces near Bangkok into water retention 
reservoirs, the government has instructed relevant ministries and 
agencies to develop a long-term comprehensive flood and water resources 
management master plan.

International Response

7.  A special meeting of the UN Disaster Management Team was convened on 
12 October to review the latest flood situation and discuss the possible 
support to the government. FAO, OCHA, UNDP, UNICEF, UN RC Office, WHO 
and WFP participated, where they agreed that the UN agencies could 
mobilize support to meet immediate requirements, while more detailed 
needs would be identified through joint assessment.

8.  OCHA is in close contact with the government and 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 Officers:
  GVA - Ms. Paola Emerson, direct Tel. +41-22-917 1613
  GVA - Mr. Masaaki Nakagawa, direct Tel. +41-22-917 4034

  NYC - Ms. Elda Papapoulou, direct Tel. +1-917-367 3599

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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