On 22 January 2010, Mr. Theerakun Niyom, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, as chairman of Inter-agency Committee on International Relief Assistance, chaired a working group meeting on humanitarian assistance to Haiti at the Foreign Ministry. Gist as follows:
1. Delivery of 20,000 tones of rice to Haiti
The meeting discussed in details on ways and means to deliver the rice, as approved by the Cabinet meeting on 19 January 2010, to Haiti and agreed to send the donated rice in 3 following shipments:
1.1 The first shipment of 100 tones of rice will be delivered by air cargo of Thai Airways International Plc. on 1 February 2010 to the World Food Programme’s field operation in Dominican Republic. The WFP will then distribute the Thai rice to the affected Haitians.
1.2 The second shipment of 3,000 tones of rice will be delivered by sea cargo to Haiti in February.
1.3 The Thai authorities will further discuss about the appropriate/efficient ways to send the remaining rice aid to Haiti .
2. Dispatching of medical team
The meeting agreed that the first Thailand’s medical team comprising 10 -15 doctors and nurses will be dispatched to join the WHO or Mexico’s medical teams operating in Haiti.
3. Assistance in reconstruction
The Royal Thai Army informed the meeting of its preparedness to send a team of army engineers to help in reconstruction of Haiti. The matter will be further discussed in the next meeting.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th