Thai government ready to help Myanmar flood victims

BANGKOK, August 8 (TNA) - The Thai government is prepared to assist neighbour Myanmar more which is being hit by severe flooding, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanasak Patimapragorn. Gen Tanasak said the Thai government earlier donated five million baht to Myanmar through its ambassador to Thailand Win Muang and is awaiting an officially response from the Myanmar government what kind of help that country needed from Thailand. Gen Tanasak said he told Myanmar Minister of Foreign Affairs Wunna Maung Lwin during a recent meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in the Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur that the Thai government is ready to provide more assistance to Myanmar flood victims should that country needed more help. The government has prepared to dispatch consumer products and other forms of necessity to Myanmar, he added. According to a foreign wire service, at least 88 people have been killed across Myanmar by severe flooding since late July. Thailand’s Deputy Defence Minister and Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr, meanwhile, said the Royal Thai Army (RTA) has prepared to send 46 personnel to assist victims in flood-hit Myanmar. The Royal Thai Armed Forces will act the major coordinator with the Myanmar government in providing assistance to that country, said Gen Udomdej. Also, RTA is on alert on possible disaster resulted from seasonal monsoon in Thailand after Mae Hong Son province bordering Myanmar was hit by landslide last week and soldiers were dispatched there to supply food to villagers who were struck in their villages cut off from the outside world. (TNA)