The Government of the Republic of the Philippines thanks Thailand

for the assistance In the typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Disaster

On 10 March 2014, Mrs. Jocelyn S. Batoon-Garcia, Ambassador of the Philippines to Thailand paid a courtesy call on Mr. Manasvi Srisodapol, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, to deliver a letter from H.E. Mr. Robert F. Del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines to H.E. Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, expressing appreciation to the members of the Royal Thai Family, the Royal Thai Government and the people of Thailand for the kind assistance extended to the victims of the typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

In accepting the appreciation letter, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand thanked the Ambassador of the Philippines for personally delivering the letter, which he will bring forward to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for acknowledgement. He viewed that it is in the “spirit of ASEAN” for member countries to help each other in difficult periods and hopes that this ASEAN “spirit” will continue to take root in the region as ASEAN advances towards an ASEAN Community in 2015.     

The Philippines was severely hit by Typhoon Haiyan on 8 November 2013, causing massive destructions and affecting the lives of 16 million people. The Government of the Philippines declared a state of natural catastrophe in 9 provinces. To date, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that of the 16 million people affected by the Typhoon Haiyan, 6,245 people died while 28,626 people were injured and 1,039 persons were missing and 4.1 million people were displaced.

As a long –standing and close friend of the Philippines in ASEAN, Thailand sent messages of condolences and extended assistance to the Philippines in alleviating the disaster from the Typhoon Haiyan as follows:

1.      Message of condolences from Their Majesty the King and Queen of Thailand to the President of the Republic of Philippines.

2.      His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm offered 7,000 sets of emergency relief.

3.      Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn donated 30,000 USD from HRH’s personal fund.

4.      Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali offered 5,000 sets of survival kits of Princess Pa Foundation including tents, milk and water purifier powder at a value of 5 million baht.

5.      Message of condolences from the Prime Minister of Thailand to the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

6.      Message of condolences from the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines.

7.      Donation of 200,000 USD from the Royal Thai Government.

8.      The Royal Thai Government set up a bank account ‘Thais sent moral support / assistance to the Philippines’ and helped raised fund at the amount of 1,642,082.04 USD for the victims from Typhoon Haiyan at a telethon on Channel 11. The fund was turned over to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines on 4^th December 2013.

9.      Donation of 5,000 tons of rice under ASEAN+3 Emergency Rice Reserve scheme at a budget of 73.6 million baht.

10.    Donation of 100,000 USD by the Thai Red Cross.

11.    Donation of 30,000 USD by the Royal Thai Army.

12. Donations by private organizations and Thais living overseas include:  332,420 boxes of ready-to-eat food by Charoen Phokphand (CP); donation of 477,330 baht by the Thai community in Germany, donation of 656,192 baht by the Thai community in Los Angeles, donation of 3,000 USD by the Thai community in New Zealand; and donation of 55,000 bath by Thai women club in Indonesia.