PM orders armed forces to provide help to flood victims in south

BANGKOK, Jan 7 (TNA) -- Thai Army spokesman said that Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha has ordered army units be mobilised to provide the quickest assistance to flood victims in the country's southern region. Army spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree, in his capacity as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)'s spokesman said that the premier is extremely worried about the people and flooding situation in the Thai south. He has reiterated to the Royal Thai Army through the Army Relief Centre (ARC) of the 4th Army Region Command to mobilise soldiers and disaster mitigation equipment to provide help to victims in all areas in the 10 southern provinces as quickly as possible which included 3,569 soldiers, 122 army trucks, 26 flat-bottom boats, 2 mobile medical units, and 2 field kitchen units. The spokesman noted that assistance would include evacuations of flood victims and their belongings to safe grounds, provide traffic convenience in flooded locations, construct dike and clear out sewers of debris to relieve water flows, clear out blocked traffic, along with provide food, beverages, survival kits, and medical checkups and treatments to affected residents. Col Winthai further added that Army Chief Gen Chalermchai Sitthisart, in his capacity as NCPO secretary-general has also ordered the military engineer department to provide more tools in support of the relieve efforts as well. (TNA)