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 Media Centre
Media Monitoring
Sources: Bangkok Post, MCOT, ThaisNews, The Nation 06 September 2005:
Phi Phi Islanders wait on govt pledges The government was quick to pledge help immediately after the tsunami struck but for local residents, business operators, street vendors and tourists, this seems to be just empty promises. They complain the government has not properly cleaned the islands and has not done enough to improve water and electricity services and roads. Although, the rehabilitation work is being carried out, it moves at a snail's pace and the yet-to-be-completed drafting of new town and planning regulations has been blamed for obstructing efforts to restore normalcy. According to an official, the new town and planning regulations were almost completed but that they would have to be approved first by the cabinet and parliament. 06 September 2005:
Locals to demand govt splash cash The cabinet meeting in Phang Nga is likely to become another money-talks event as local administration organisations and politicians plan to seek cabinet approval for a series of mega-projects to tackle the long-lasting tsunami aftermath problems. The proposed projects include the expansion of Phetkasem highway between Khao Lak and Takua Pa district and the construction of dams, water pipelines, bridges, sea walls, piers, evacuation buildings and tsunami-warning towers. 06 September 2005:
Search for victims of tsunami to be renewed on Phi-Phi island This month the disaster victims identification centre will renew its search for victims of last year tsunami on Phi-Phi island following reports that there could be more bodies under some collapsed sea embankments, the wreckage of which have not yet been removed. The new search would require extra budget and so have to seek for the government's approval first. 06 September 2005:
Tsunami-hit provinces to be developed as world-class 'Andaman Paradise'Thailand will develop its three tsunami-hit provinces as the 'Andaman Paradise', a world class marine tourism hub. The plan, called "The Strategy on Developing the Andaman Triangle," was approved by the cabinet on Tuesday. Under the strategy, Phuket will revive its globally distinctive status as the 'Pearl of the Andamans', while Phang-nga and Krabi will be developed as naturally tranquil eco-tourism centres. 07 September 2005:
Dates set for activities commemorating the tsunamiThe official memorial service for tsunami victims will be held on December 26 in Phang Nga's Khao Lak district, and a series of commemorative events including carnivals, live music and water sports will follow the next day in Phang Nga, Phuket and Krabi. 07 September 2005:
Tsunami victims to be remembered The government will invite relatives of Thai and foreign tsunami victims to memorial services on the disaster's Dec 26 anniversary and pay for them to attend. This is part of a package to mark the tsunami's anniversary, said government spokesman. The Tourism and Sports Ministry has asked for 50 million baht for marketing campaigns. 07 September 2005:
Thailand conducts world's largest tsunami stress DNA studyProject staff have now completed their field work, gathering interviews and DNA samples from 5,600 tsunami-affected patients. The research will help establish a correlation between someone's genes, the mental disorder from which they are suffering and their responsive to different treatments which could in turn enable doctors to prescribe specific treatments with a higher degree of efficacy. 07 September 2005:
Smith: Red tape stalling alert system Red tape is delaying the installation of an integrated tsunami warning system for the six provinces devastated by the Dec tsunami, said Smith Dharmasarojana, the head of the committee assigned to install it. According to him, the authority to buy the necessary equipment rests with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and the Meteorological Department and its purchase is subject to the usual lengthy bureaucratic procedures. Mr. Smith also doubted that the system would be completed by the first anniversary of the disaster, but there would be at least four towers on beaches in each of the affected provinces and at least one tsunami warning sensor floating offshore. 07 September 2005:
Bank of Thailand report: Focus on South's economic plightA new Bank of Thailand report shows that Tourism in Phuket dropped 54 per cent in the month of July alone from the same period last year. Other sectors of the southern economy have followed suit with sales of products and exports down in July, a dip the central bank attributes to the lingering effects of the tsunami and unrest in the deep South. 07 September 2005:
King of Sweden gives monetary donations to Tsunami affected peopleKing Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, the honorary president of the World Scout Foundation (WSF) has donated 25,000 US Dollars to support 91 orphaned students who are scouts of Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun. The donation will be distributed as scholarships. 08 September 2005:
Warning system a joint effortA memorandum of understanding was signed on Tuesday to set up early warning arrangements and preparedness for natural disasters for Thailand between the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre and the National Disaster Warning Centre. The two agencies will exchange real-time data from sea-level observation and seismic monitoring systems in Thailand and the region - in the process of being installed - to provide an early warning of natural disasters here and to other participating national warning centres. 09 September 2005:
Duty free shopping to lure both foreign and local touristsAs part of the plan to revive the economy of the country's tsunami-struck provinces, the Thai government has allowed duty free shops exclusively available at international airport departure to operate in Krabi, Phuket and Pang-nga, and with a new twist that Thais too can also access the shops. If the campaign turns out as successfully as planned, it will be a Bt 3 billion boon to the local economies. 10 September 2005:
Australia to help Thai tourism recoverAustralia is planning to spend $A1.5 million on a program to support coastal recovery efforts in tsunami-affected southern regions of Thailand, as part of efforts to promote sustainable tourism development. The program is led by the Queensland government through the federal government's overseas aid program. 12 September 2005:
USD 1M from Seoul highlights disaster preparedness in tsunami countriesThe Republic of Korea contribution to the Bangkok-based United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) will be used to implement regional projects as part of the UN response to the Indian Ocean tsunami. The projects will focus on improving the co-ordination and effectiveness of regional practices and policies, and integrating regional disaster preparedness and management into public policy and national systems in the Asia-Pacific region. |
© 2005 United Nations Thailand
