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101738
Fri, 01/22/2010 - 12:10
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Thai humanitarian aid arriving Haiti in 3-4 days: FM Kasit
BANGKOK, Jan 22 (TNA) - Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Thursday said Thailand’s first stage humanitarian aid to help earthquake victims will arrive in the devastated island of Haiti in the next three to four days.
Mr Kasit said that the Thai Cabinet earlier approved a US$100,000 grant to quake-hit Haiti, and will also send 20,000 tonnes of rice to help victims following estimates that two million people urgently need food aid.
The Thai ambassador to Mexico presented the donation from Thailand to the Mexican government Thursday to provide necessities including food, medical supplies and basic tools for living such as flashlights, according to the Thai official.
The necessities will reach Haiti in three or four days, said Mr Kasit, noting that the Thai commerce ministry is considering shipping 20,000 tonnes of rice to Haiti, which costs less than transporting the grain via United Nations World Food Programme which cost around US$10 million.
At least 75,000 people have been killed and 1.5 million homeless estimated so far after the 7.0 magnitude quake hit Haiti last week and flattened much of its capital.
Mr Kasit added that three million baht has been donated by Thai people through the ministry's bank account, Bt12 million given to an account set up by the government, Bt8 million to the Thai Red Cross, Bt65 million donated to TV Channel 3 and Bt30 million to the Nation Group.
The foreign minister said the ministry will be centre in sending the donations to Haiti victims through Mexico and other international organisations.
The foreign ministry is also discussing with the Defence Ministry to send Thai soldiers to Haiti as peacekeepers, while the Thai army engineers will help rebuild schools and hospitals, said Mr Kasit.
Mr Kasit said the discussion with the United Nations to dispatch Thai army to join the UN Peace Keeping Operations in Haiti is underway.
Humanitarian aid from Thailand will not end only in the first or second phrase as it will take many years in restoring the devastated country, said the Thai foreign minister.
Mr Kasit said that the permanent-secretary for foreign affairs Theerakul Niyom will hold a meeting with concerned agencies about sending soldiers, doctors and nurses into Haiti.
Regarding the help on Thais living in Haiti, Mr Kasit said that Norachit Singhaseni, Thailand's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York has contacted seven Thais living in the quake-hit country and was informed that all were safe.
Mr Kasit said that two Thais left Haiti for Thailand, while the other five decided to stay there. (TNA)
Mr Kasit said that the Thai Cabinet earlier approved a US$100,000 grant to quake-hit Haiti, and will also send 20,000 tonnes of rice to help victims following estimates that two million people urgently need food aid.
The Thai ambassador to Mexico presented the donation from Thailand to the Mexican government Thursday to provide necessities including food, medical supplies and basic tools for living such as flashlights, according to the Thai official.
The necessities will reach Haiti in three or four days, said Mr Kasit, noting that the Thai commerce ministry is considering shipping 20,000 tonnes of rice to Haiti, which costs less than transporting the grain via United Nations World Food Programme which cost around US$10 million.
At least 75,000 people have been killed and 1.5 million homeless estimated so far after the 7.0 magnitude quake hit Haiti last week and flattened much of its capital.
Mr Kasit added that three million baht has been donated by Thai people through the ministry's bank account, Bt12 million given to an account set up by the government, Bt8 million to the Thai Red Cross, Bt65 million donated to TV Channel 3 and Bt30 million to the Nation Group.
The foreign minister said the ministry will be centre in sending the donations to Haiti victims through Mexico and other international organisations.
The foreign ministry is also discussing with the Defence Ministry to send Thai soldiers to Haiti as peacekeepers, while the Thai army engineers will help rebuild schools and hospitals, said Mr Kasit.
Mr Kasit said the discussion with the United Nations to dispatch Thai army to join the UN Peace Keeping Operations in Haiti is underway.
Humanitarian aid from Thailand will not end only in the first or second phrase as it will take many years in restoring the devastated country, said the Thai foreign minister.
Mr Kasit said that the permanent-secretary for foreign affairs Theerakul Niyom will hold a meeting with concerned agencies about sending soldiers, doctors and nurses into Haiti.
Regarding the help on Thais living in Haiti, Mr Kasit said that Norachit Singhaseni, Thailand's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York has contacted seven Thais living in the quake-hit country and was informed that all were safe.
Mr Kasit said that two Thais left Haiti for Thailand, while the other five decided to stay there. (TNA)
