Thai government promises all possible assistance for Laos

BANGKOK, July 26 (TNA) -- The Thai government will provide Laos with all possible aids to help it recover from its burst dam disaster. Prime Minister’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made the order during a meeting of the Board of Investment in response to the disaster of the Xepian Xe Namnoy hydropower project and the Foreign Ministry was contacting Lao authorities to compile a list of the resources that Laos needed. “As the closest neighboring country, Thailand is ready to provide the fullest assistance in all cases. Many parties in the private sector and general people have started to provide help. This is good. An announcement can be made soon on the forms of assistance. The government will arrange for aids in all dimensions including consumer products, medical treatment and post-flood rehabilitation,” Mr Kobsak said. Authorities in provinces have started to gather donations for Lao victims. In Khon Kaen province, donations were being received at the provincial hall and Kosa Hotel. At the provincial hall, the Lao consul-general set up the center to receive donations and would forward them to affected regions in Laos. Similar activities went on in Ubon Ratchathani province, at Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University. People were donating tents, clothes, medications, rice and dried foods among other products. (TNA)