Hat Yai Residents Rush to Register for 9,000 Baht Flood Relief

SONGKHLA, Dec 3 (TNA) - Large crowds of residents in Hat Yai flocked to the city municipality office on Monday (Dec 2) to obtain application forms for the government's 9,000 baht ($282) flood relief compensation, with many arriving before dawn.

The registration for flood victims seeking the 9,000 baht payment was met with high demand. However, after waiting for over an hour, many residents grew frustrated and began complaining to officials. Staff explained that the municipality's photocopier was damaged by the floodwaters and was non-functional. 

Consequently, officials had to print the application forms and transport them off-site for copying, causing significant delays.

Meanwhile, in the nearby Khuan Lang City Municipality, where the official census records over 50,000 affected residents—not including an estimated hundred thousand unregistered inhabitants—local authorities expedited the registration process.

They allowed residents to register for relief using only their national ID card and even dispatched officials to collect registrations directly from people's homes to ensure all affected residents received their entitlements.

Over the first two days of the flood relief registration, more than 50,000 people have signed up, mostly household owners.

Employees and renters, however, remain concerned about missing documentation, much of which was lost in the flood. They have appealed to the Prime Minister for assistance regarding the necessary paperwork. -819 (TNA)