On 16 February 2010, Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, presided over a welcome back reception for the Thai Advance Team to Haiti after they returned from their mission to deliver the medical supplies and necessities to affected Haitians, and explore ways and means that Thailand could provide further assistance to the country.
The Advance Team, comprising Mr. Saroj Thanasanti, Minister Counsellor of the Royal Thai Embassy in Mexico, who have returned to his office, together with the representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mr. Dhiravat Bhumichitr, Minister Councellor, Devavongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Ekaphat Premyodhin, Second Secretary, Office of Policy and Planning), the Ministry of Defense (GP. CAPT.Pichet Arpornpattanapong, Director of Policy and Plans Division, Medical Office, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters and COL. Sutep Pariyaeksut, Deputy Director of Engineer Division, Rachaburi Province, Royal Thai Army) and the Ministry of Public Health (Mr. Pairoj Boonsirikamchai, Assistant Secretary General, Medical Emergency Institute of Thailand and Mr. Anurak Amornpetchsathaporn, Doctor, Sawanpracharak Hospital) had been in Haiti during 29 January - 13 February 2010.
Foreign Minister Kasit thanked members of the Advance Team and expressed his appreciation for their devotion to the humanitarian mission to help Haiti.
Mr. Dhiravat, the Foreign Ministry’s representative, briefed the attendants of the two main missions of the Advance Team, which were to asses the situation and needs of the Haitians and visit 6 Thai nationals who decided to remain in Haiti. With regards to the first mission,the Advance Team had explored the affected areas in Port-au-Prince during 1-9 February 2010 and found that 80% of the buildings in the capital city were devastated, while around 1.5 millions people were left homeless with additional food shortage and sanitary problems. In addition, the Advance Team also visited 6 Thai nationals residing in Haiti, which included 3 Thai restaurant owners, 1 company employee, and 2 Catholic nuns. Furthermore, on 2 February 2010, the Advance Team had delivered the first shipment of 100 tonnes of Thai rice to the World Food Programme for distribution to the Haitians, and coordinated with the Mexican authorities concerned in delivering Thailand’s contribution of medical supplies and necessities to Haiti.
The representative of the Ministry of Public Health mentioned about the problems of homelessness, sanitation, and infrastructures in Haiti. As for the medical assistance to Haiti, the Ministry of Public Health has been considering to send the appropriate medical team that suits the need in the field. Each medical team might serve in Haiti on a rotational basis for the period of 2-4 weeks.
The representative from the Ministry of Defense talked about the short-term and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction phases. For the short-term, Thailand would consider to provide assistance in construction of temporary shelters such as tent and field hospital. Thailand would further discuss the matter with the authorities concerned for a long-term assistance.
Foreign Minister Kasit concluded that the Foreign Ministry would submit a report on mission of the Thai Advance Team to the Prime Minister. At this stage,Thailand would consider on sending temporary shelters such as tent, to help the Haitians during coming the hurricane season. The Kingdom would also coordinate with the World Food Program and major shipping companies to request support for logistical cost of donoted rice shipment. For a long-term rehabilitation phase,Thailand would consider on sending an appropriate medical team, i.e. psychological rehabilitation team and treatment for disabled patients from the earthquake, and on providing vocational training, scholarship and agricultural assistance to Haiti as well.
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