On 29 January 2010, Mr. Theerakun Niyom, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, hold a press conference before the advance team of Thailand depart Bangkok to Haiti. The trip is a follow-up to the Thai Cabinet’s decision to provide humanitarian assistance to Haiti, which was hit by a massive earthquake on 12 January 2010.
The Thai Advance Team, comprising each of two representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Public Health, is scheduled to depart Bangkok on 29 January 2010 by Thai Airways,TG 794 at 19.30 hrs.to Mexico City to join with the Minister Councellor and a local staff of the Royal Thai Embassy there. The group will meet with the representatives of the Mexican government to receive a briefing on the latest situation in Haiti and also exchange views on ways and means to provide humanitarian assistance to the country. After the stop over in Mexico, the group will travel to Haiti to carry out their mission as follows:
- Meet and help Thai nationals in Haiti.
- Coordinate with the Mexican Government on delivery of Thailand’s contribution in amount of USD 100,000, some of which was already used to procure urgent medical supplies and necessities to assist the Haitians.
- Coordinate and supervise the arrival of the first shipment of 100 tonnes of Thai rice in the morning of 2 February 2010 (local time in Haiti) at Port-au-Prince airport.
- Observe the Mexican medical team’s task and evaluate medical assistance Haiti needs in order to prepare for the future operation of Thai medical team.
- Estimate Haiti’s demand for assistance in restoration and reconstruction.
Name list of the Thai Advance Team
Representatives of the Foreign Ministry
1. Mr. Dhiravat Bhumichitr, Minister Counsellor, Devavongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs
2. Mr. Ekaphat Premyodhin, Second Secretary, Office of Policy and Planning
Representatives of the Defense Ministry
1. GP. CAPT. Pichet Arpornpattanapong Director of Policy and Plans Division, Medical Office,
Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
2. COL. Sutep Pariyaeksut, Deputy Director of Engineer Division, Rachaburi Province, Royal Thai Army
Representatives of the Public Health Ministry
1. Mr. Pairoj Boonsirikamchai, Assistant Secretary General, Medical Emergency Institute of Thailand
2. Mr. Anurak Amornpetchsathaporn, Doctor, Sawanpracharak Hospital
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