Bangkok:The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is expediting flood relief efforts as directed by the Prime Minister.
According to Thai News Agency, the DDPM announced that registrations via the government's app have reached over one million households. The department is advising citizens on verifying information and selecting the correct area to prevent application errors. Cooperation from Bangkok and local authorities is being requested to hasten area surveys. If all information is complete, the Government Savings Bank can transfer funds within 2-3 days, ensuring they reach citizens by the end of the week.
A press conference was held by the Joint Information Center for the Flood Situation, where Ms. Sirithorn Somsuwan, Director of the Public Relations Division of the DDPM, outlined the relief measures for affected populations. The first part involves using emergency government funds to aid disaster victims, with damage assessments and fund disbursements already underway in Bangkok and affected provinces.
The second part pertains to Cabinet-approved funds for flood victims. Assistance is provided for properties flooded for less than seven days and in cases of continuous flooding for seven days or more, offering 9,000 baht per household. For properties surrounded by water for seven days or more, 5,000 baht per household is available. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for swift action, prompting DDPM to coordinate with Bangkok and 75 provinces to conduct surveys and confirm data.
The DDPM confirmed that once data is submitted, they will send confirmations to the Government Savings Bank to enable relief fund transfers within 2-3 days. Citizens registered through the government's app system numbered 1,056,361 households as of October 5th. Registrations include 458,987 households in Bangkok, 149,194 in Samut Prakan, 130,010 in Pathum Thani, 42,531 in Chachoengsao, and 36,016 in Rayong.
Citizens receiving messages such as "Not in the area" are advised to verify their location with local administrative organizations or district offices before selecting the disaster area. Incorrect address selection prevents system confirmation. Registered citizens can check and correct information in the "My Requests" section, ensuring that the disaster date matches the actual situation, which requires a minimum period of seven days.
Ms. Sirithorn also stated that the DDPM is coordinating with local administrative organizations, Bangkok, and provinces to inform the public about available assistance and rights to ensure clarity and convenience in application submissions.