Government to hand out more financial assistance for flood-hit Bangkokians

BANGKOK, November 23 (TNA) - The Thai government plans to provide an additional 10-billion-baht assistance for flood victims in Bangkok, after having earlier approved some 50-million-baht financial support to each flood-stricken province, including Bangkok, and a separate budget of 3.1 billion baht sought by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to help over 600,000 flood victims in the capital with its disbursement process being under way. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit told reporters of the new plan on Wednesday, following his meeting with Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra at the Ministry of Interior to discuss the country's flood-related problems. According to the deputy premier, the additional financial support for flooded households in Bangkok will include 5,000-baht immediate compensation each and house repair subsidies, ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 baht per household depending on extents of flooding. The deputy premier said that the government is compiling a list of flooded households eligible for the additional financial assistance and is also studying relevant laws, and that his Interior Ministry will continue mobilizing people from other provinces to help clean areas in Bangkok where inundations have been receding and to cook food for flood victims. Flooding in some parts of Bangkok is mostly being relieved, although the amount of floodwater in some areas has remained stable, as assistance in all forms has continued pouring to flood victims in the capital and adjacent provinces. (TNA)