Flood Response in Thailand - December 2011

The flood waters in Thailand have been clearing but even months after the flooding began many neighborhoods are still under water and people are forced either into alternate locations or up to the second floor if they have one.  I joined the Bangkok Thai Ekachai church in flood response in Nonthuburi, Northeast of Bangkok and was again amazed at the resilience of the people I encountered.  Wading through water between calf and just above knee high we went house to house bringing welcomed care kits with food, water, and hygiene and sanitary products.  

Even as the flood water recedes the real work and impacts of the flooding is just beginning.  With over 1/3 of the country directly affected by the flood the scope and magnitude is staggering.  Some schools have been closed for more that 18 weeks – those of you in education can imagine how hard it would be to make up 18 weeks.  In rural areas especially this creates great risk.  In rural communities kids often don’t continue past primary school.  In one community 39 primary schools feed into just one high school and 3 vocational schools.  Keeping kids in school not only increases their education it provides safety from exploitation.  Following the floods many rural families have lost their livelihoods. In many cases farmland is mortgaged each year and paid for by the harvest. There will be no harvest this year so people may lose their land. With parents out of work and children out of school there is an increased risk of exploitation by traffickers.  The land will actually become more fertile in a year or two following the flood, but without intervention many will return to work their former land as wage earners. There are many opportunities for advocacy, community education, and vocational training to help the more than 2 million people who have been displaced as a result of these floods.

 Ekachai Church Team Members

Water marks show former water level (4-5 feet) 

 Water marks are higher than the bicycle

Boats are now used to get supplies in and out of the neighborhood 

Adding leg protection - the water is pretty nasty at this point. 

Ekachai Church Team Members 

Multiple Generations from Ekachai Church 

Ekachai Church Team Members 

This Soi (street) gets deeper the further down you walk or boat.

There should not be any water here - this is not a venice like neighborhood.

Note water marks. 

In the front of the boat. 

The boat comes along side a house and people come downstairs, 

and wade through water to receive the care packages, delivered with care.

 More Team Members

Riding in the boat after wading for a couple of hours