Thailand Flooding-World Vision Emergency Response

When we first introduced you to the need in Thailand, people were in desperate need of help. Hundreds had died; millions were homeless, the region’s infrastructure left damaged, and over 2 million hectares of crops destroyed. 

With support from donors like you, World Vision was able to provide help and hope to those affected. Providing essentials like survival kits, food, life jackets and boats. Once the waters receded World Vision supplied cleaning kits, and established Child-Friendly Spaces, providing affected families with much needed support and a safe place for children to meet. 

Food and Survival Kits

In order to meet the immediate needs of flood-affected people, survival kits and food packs were distributed to targeted flood-affected communities. The survival kits each consisted of a one-week food supply, consisting of rice, instant noodles, cooking oil, fish sauce, sugar, canned food, mineral water and other hygiene products. A total of 14,890 survival kits were distributed across the provinces of Ayutthaya, Chainat, Nonthaburi, Utaithani and Bangkok, benefiting 59,560 people.

Relief supplies for Wat Raiking Evacuation Center

In addition to the distribution of survival kits and food packs, additional relief commodities, including rice, toothbrushes and toothpaste, diapers, sanitary napkins, baby powder and soap were distributed to 400 flood-affected migrant workers from Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos who were being housed in Wat Raiking School in Nakhon Pathum Province that was being used as an evacuation center. - This activity benefited 400 people

Cleaning Kits

Many flood-affected areas were inundated for extended periods of time and as the floodwaters receded, much debris was left behind, making large-scale clean-ups necessary. In order to support targeted flood-affected communities in their efforts to resume their daily lives and routines, 5,000 cleaning kits were provided to 5,000 families across Ayutthaya, Chainat, Nonthaburi and Utaithani Provinces. Each cleaning kit consists of 2 brooms, 1 floor brush, 2 dozens of garbage bag, 1 dustpan, 2 packs of detergent powder, 1 scotch brush, 2 plastic bucket, and 1 shovel. - This activity has benefited 20,000 people from 5,000 households

Establishment of Child-friendly Spaces 

Disasters can be stressful times for children: their normal routines were disrupted and schools were suspended due to the widespread flooding. The Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) provided a safe place for children to express themselves; learn about life skills such as self-care, healthcare and child protection; as well as to receive basic psychosocial support. The CFS were established in the provinces of Utaithani, Chonburi, Phetchaburi, Nonthaburi and Ratchaburi as well as in Bangkok. The locations for the CFS were chosen based on their proximity to evacuation centers or camps for displaced people on higher ground. - This activity benefited 1,598 children 

Quote:"It [the Child Friendly Space] is very good. They came here and then they take care of the kids in this area, even (helping us) feel no pressure, not feel serious a lot and the children also they forgot that they are in a bad situation because they (begin) to heal."- Fatima, mother of four boys. Her children attended a Child Friendly Space in an evacuation shelter in Nonthaburi.

The initial emergency relief phase has been completed and the longer-term response and rebuilding efforts are continuing until June 2012. These rebuilding efforts include, clean water and sanitation activities, livelihood recovery, and disaster risk reduction programs in schools and community centers.

Fundraising to support these efforts have been completed, and so with heart-felt gratitude we thank you for your spiritual and financial support! We hope you enjoyed reading about our response efforts and how together we have made a difference in the lives of thousands of families.