Thais assist typhoon victims in Philippines

BANGKOK, November 14 (TNA) - The general public in Thailand have joined the government in assisting people in the Philippines who have been affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan. Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, herself, participated in a special programme broadcast live on the government-run TV Channel 11, or the National broadcasting Television (NBT), on Wednesday night to receive donations, mostly cashes, from the general public and various agencies in order to be sent to the Super Typhoon Haiyan's victims in the Philippines, a neighbouring country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Thai government has already delivered a cash donation of 200,000 US dollars, or about 6 million baht, to the super typhoon's victims in the Philippines and will soon send more assistance to the ASEAN neighbour, through the Thai military. Meanwhile, Thai Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimaprakorn told reporters that the Royal Thai Armed Forces is ready to send medical teams for rescue operations and for a search for more survivors from Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, along with food and medication supplies, by C-130 aircraft. According to the Thai armed forces chief, the additional assistance will be sent to the Phillipnes shortly, after a discussion with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday afternoon. Typhoon “Haiyan” hit the central Philippine province of Leyte last Friday and it was estimated unofficially that as many as 10,000 people perished. (TNA)