Thailand begins sending rice to quake-hit Haiti

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presided over the sendoff of rice and financial donations at Suvarnabhumi Airport by a special flight by the national flag carrier Thai Airways International (THAI).

The humanitarian aid by Thailand includes 20,000 tonnes of rice and a US$100,000 grant.

Piyasvasti Amranand, THAI President, said that the company carried the first batch of 100 tonnes of rice donated by the government and varied agencies to help quake victims as soon as possible.

There are serious food shortages among the earthquake survivors.

THAI provided a cargo flight to carry the rice from Bangkok to Haiti. The food shipment is expected to arrive in the capital of Port-Au-Prince on Tuesday (February 2).

The 36-hour flight is faster by six weeks than delivering the food by ship to reach its destination.

Mr Piyasvasti added that the humanitarian aid supported by the government and Thai Airways will boost Thailand’s image as one of the world’s top rice and food producers.

The flagship carrier financially supported the transportation cost of Bt10 million (over $30,000) while the rest of the costs is covered by the government and other agencies.

Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said the ministry sent Dr Piroj Boonsirikamchai, Assistant Secretary-General of the Emergency Medical Institute and three other officials to Port-au-Prince to survey the need of quake victims in Haiti last Friday.

They will report back to the Foreign Ministry and the Public Health Ministry to providing further assistance.

Initially, the ministry will dispatch three teams of medical staff to Haiti on February 8. They will stay there for two to four weeks, said Mr  Jurin.