DISASTER DECLARATION: THAILAND

UNCLAS BANGKOK 006228

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
AIDAC

BANGKOK FOR CONTROLLER
STATE FOR EAP, USAID/DCHA/OFDA FOR RTHAYER AND BDEEMER, ANE/ESA FOR
CJENNINGS
KATMANDU FOR USAID/OFDA BERGER
GENEVA FOR USAID NKYLOH
NSC FOR CREWES
CDR USPACOM FOR J3/J4/J32/POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID TH
SUBJECT: DISASTER DECLARATION: THAILAND


1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 6.


2. SUMMARY - EXTENSIVE MONSOON RAINS OVER THE PAST MONTH AND, MORE
RECENTLY, TYPHOON XANGSHANE, HAVE LED TO SEVERE FLOODING IN 19
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PROVINCES OF THAILAND. ACCORDING TO MEDIA
REPORTS, THE FLOODS HAVE RESULTED IN 39 DEATHS, IMPACTED MORE THAN
TWO MILLION RESIDENTS, FORCED EVACUATIONS OF THOUSANDS OF
HOUSEHOLDS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE TOTALING MORE THAN USD 6.4
MILLION. ADDITIONALLY, SOME 130,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY
SKIN AND RESPIRATORY AILMENTS SAID TO BE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE
FLOODS. THE PROVINCES OF AYUTTHAYA AND ANG THONG HAVE BEEN HARDEST
HIT, WITH SOME VILLAGES IN ANG THONG REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN UNDER
MORE THAN THREE METERS OF WATER. GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
EMERGENCY AND CONTINUED HUMANITARIAN NEEDS, THE AMBASSADOR DECLARES
THAT A STATE OF DISASTER HAS RESULTED AND REQUESTS THE RELEASE OF
USD 50,000 UNDER THE AMBASSADOR'S DISASTER ASSISTANCE AUTHORITY.
FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT THAI RED CROSS EMERGENCY RELIEF
EFFORTS IN THE AFFECTED PROVINCES. END SUMMARY.


3. BACKGROUND: THE DEATH TOLL FROM SEVERE FLOODING IN 19 CENTRAL AND
NORTHERN PROVINCES OF THAILAND ROSE TO 39 AS OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 9,
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER PREVENTION AND MITIGATION.
THE FLOODS HAVE AFFECTED MORE THAN TWO MILLON PEOPLE, FORCED
EVACUATIONS OF RESIDENTS TO TEMPORARY SHELTERS, AND RESULTED IN
INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE AND ADVERSE IMPACTS ON LOCAL LIVELIHOODS. IN
RESPONSE TO THE FLOODS, THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT (RTG),PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENTS AND THE THAI RED CROSS ARE PROVIDING EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE TO THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES. THE THAI RED CROSS HAS
RECENTLY DEPLOYED ASSESSMENT TEAMS TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF
DAMAGES AND NEED, AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES
AND EVACUATION SERVICES TO AFFECTED COMMUNITIES. RELIEF SUPPLIES
INCLUDE FAMILY PARCELS, DRINKING WATER, HOUSEHOLD MEDICAL KITS,
MEDICINES, AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF FLAT BOTTOM BOATS FOR EVACUATIONS.



4. SITUATION IN FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS: OF THAILAND'S 12 MAJOR
RESERVOIRS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, NINE ARE CURRENTLY AT 90
PERCENT CAPACITY OR GREATER, WITH TWO AT OR ABOVE MAXIMUM CAPACITY.
THE LOCAL WEATHER FORECAST IS CALLING FOR CONTINUED THUNDERSHOWERS
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO DAYS, WITH
ISOLATED HEAVY RAINS CONTINUING IN ALL REGIONS. AS HEAVY RAINS
CONTINUE, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT FURTHER RISK OF FLOODING WILL ONLY
WORSEN. ACCESS TO FLOOD-AFFECTED DISTRICTS CONTINUES TO BE HAMPERED
BY DAMAGE TO LOCAL INFRASTURCURE. THE RED CROSS IS CURRENTLY USING
UP TO TEN FLAT BOTTOM BOATS TO ASSIST IN EVACUATION EFFORTS IN
FLOOD-AFFECTED DISTRICTS. THE LATEST ASSESSMENT BY THE RED CROSS
INDICATES CONTINUED NEED FOR FAMILY RELIEF PACKAGES, POTABLE WATER
AND HYGIENE SUPPLIES. USAID/OFDA FUNDING WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT
THE THAI RED CROSS EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS, INCLUDING THE
PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEEDED EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES.



5. BASED ON THE SITUATION, I DECLARE A DISASTER OF SIGNIFICANT
MAGNITUDE HAS OCCURRED IN THE FLOOD-AFFECTED PROVINCES OF CENTRAL
AND NORTHERN THAILAND TO WARRANT USG ASSISTANCE, THE PROVISION OF
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES,
AND THIS SUPPORT TO THE THAI RED CROSS WILL BE APPRECIATED AND
WELCOMED BY THE RTG DURING THIS EMERGENCY PERIOD.


6. POST REQUESTS USD 50,000 UNDER THE AMBASSADOR'S AUTHORITY. THIS
FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE THAI RED CROSS TO SUPPORT THOSE MOST
SEVERELY AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS. FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT RED
CROSS EMERGENCY EVACUATION ACTIVITIES AND FOR THE PROCUREMENT AND
DISTRIBUTION OF EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES, SUCH AS DRINKING WATER,
HYGIENE KITS, AND BASIC HOUSEHOLD GOODS.

BOYCE