Thailand pays ฿5.2 billion in flood aid, seeks additional funding
The DDPM plans to request another ฿10.5 billion from the Cabinet on October 20 to continue payments to eligible households.
Thailand has distributed ฿5.2 billion in flood assistance to 683,286 households, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). The department will seek Cabinet approval on October 20 for a further ฿10.5 billion.
DDPM director-general Nirat Pongsittaworn confirmed the payments on October 17. The Government Savings Bank handled the transfers after receiving the department’s entire ฿5.28 billion allocation.
A Cabinet resolution makes households affected by flooding or isolated by floodwater eligible for payments of ฿9,000 or ฿7,000 each. It covers flooding between May 15 and September 30 across 66 provinces and Bangkok.
Payments have reached recipients in 46 provinces so far. In Bangkok, 248,643 households have received a combined ฿1.78 billion.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also serves as interior minister, assigned the DDPM to administer the assistance budget. Nirat said Anutin had authorised the department to request additional funding immediately if needed, with the government seeking to ensure that every eligible household receives assistance.
