AusAID funds two 10-wheel trucks for disaster relief in Thailand

BANGKOK, July 26 (TNA) - The Australian Embassy to Thailand on Wednesday donated two 10-wheel trucks, funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), to the Thai Red Cross Society for its future disaster relief operations, in the wake of a flooding crisis in the country late last year. Australian Ambassador to Thailand His Excellency James Wise and Secretary General to the Thai Red Cross Society Phan Wannamethee jointly presided over a ceremony in Bangkok to present the two 10-wheel trucks to the Thai Red Cross Society. The AusAID has funded half a million Australian dollars through the Australian Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to sponsor donations to the Thai Red Cross and other relief agencies. The AusAID overall donations cover the costs of 8,000 relief kits for affected households, one Rub Hall Warehouse, 2,000 pieces of tarpaulins and 6,500 pieces of jerry cans, as well as two recently-purchased 10-wheel container truck and 10-wheel trucks with a crane. Disaster relief cooperation between Australia and Thailand has been strengthened, following last year’s flooding in both countries. The massive amount of downpours hitting Thailand last year had inundated 65 Thai provinces and affected almost 14 million Thais, with some 800 deaths; while three-quarters of Australia's Queensland State was declared a disaster zone due to floods inundating 70 towns and affecting over 200,000 local people. (TNA)