Flooding

Flood water continues to pose a threat to Bangkok. According to the Thai Department of Disaster Relief and Mitigation, 437 people have already died as a result of the flooding, including more than 50 children by drowning and 50 people from electrocution. Over three million people are directly affected by the inundation.

Downtown Bangkok is facing a growing threat as waters advance to the Thai capital's prime commercial areas.

Resisting evacuation

The government has set up evacuation centers, which in several cases, have been forced to relocate as the shelters themselves become inundated.

Srisuwan Kuanachorn, from the Foundation for Ecological Recovery (FER) says despite the shelters offered by the government, many people continue to stay put, fearing their homes will be vulnerable to theft. On the whole, Srisuwan believes the communities will help themselves: "Many of those affected communities do have the capacity to help themselves. They need some external support, but many of them have demonstrated a certain capacity in the province of trying to tackle this flood situation."

In the Bangkok slum community of Klong Toey, Father Joe Maier, a Catholic priest who has spent 30 years working with the local people, says those who are living in the evacuation centers have become anxious and want to return home despite the floods. "The people are getting more and more restless. They want to go home no matter what. Then especially in areas where the thieves are, where there is theft, we're going to have real problems and I don't think anybody is prepared for this."

Plea for help

At a temple in Bangkok, a senior monk made a plea for assistance. The temple, Wat Dusitaram Worawihan, is near the Chao Phraya River that runs through central Bangkok. The temple area has been awash with flood waters since October 26.

Local businessman Somchai Pattanont and friends from the Lion Club bought essential items to the temple by boat from down river. Roads near to the temple are impassable due to floods. Somchai says the head monk told him of growing tensions in the local community. "The monk called me. They wanted water, some medicine, milk and food. They said at the temple there was trouble."

Somchai remains pessimistic over the immediate outlook. "I think the country is in for a long ride…the people are very, very troubled. The country is all destroyed. People have no money, no food, no rice."

Thousands of people remain in immediate need of assistance, according to local aid workers.

Health concerns

Health Ministry officials have warned communities of toxins from inundated factories, snakes and even crocodiles, as well as sewage. Flood waters also increase the likelihood of mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.

Parita Promlert, head of the Thai Red Cross Society in Lop Buri, says many communities are still in need of shelter, food and water. Parita's concern lies with the threat of the spread of disease - influenza and waterborne diseases - due to the fetid water.

The Thai Government has set out initial plans to spend around 26 billion US dollars for flood relief, reconstruction and longer term water management.

Author: Ron Corben
Editor: Sarah Berning