Thailand's Worst Flood (16 Nov 2011) - YouTube: ""
Clinton announces $ 10m in extra assistance for the recovery of U.S.
U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has $ 10 million or 300 million baht in additional flood recovery assistance to Thailand, including money to Don Mueang airport announced repair.
Mrs. Clinton said after talks with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday evening during her visit to Thailand, that the amount was in addition to the earlier $ 1.1 million in direct humanitarian aid given by the Thai Red Cross, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Diplomatic sources said the new promise will contain allocated U.S. $ 750,000 through USAID money to drain the water from the Don Mueang airport and repairs, rebuilding stations and 10 police officers to restore the ancient and world heritage sites in Ayutthaya.
Ms Yingluck said she had discussed with Mrs. Clinton's ability to use U-Tapao Airport at Sattahip for humanitarian assistance for disaster relief.
The two sides also discussed the damage to cultivation, as this made very concerned about food security.
Ms Yingluck Mrs. Clinton reiterated her government's goals for political reconciliation and the ongoing work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Mrs. Clinton said the U.S. had closely with the government from the beginning of the flood of options, was to find help in disaster relief and reconstruction.
"The support for the Thai economic recovery is also included. The floods early challenges to the Thai government and the hard won peace after political violence you have suffered through the last few years been achieved," said Mrs. Clinton.
She said the U.S. stood behind Thailand, to consolidate strong institutions, good governance, ensuring the rule of law and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Was asked on the question of the amnesty debate, Mrs. Clinton said she had encouraged the government to advance the reconciliation process to the violence around the political unrest in recent years address.
Mrs. Clinton also offered their sympathies for the Thai people say that among the natural disasters of all kinds, flooding was probably the worst. "The most difficult thing is to start the rehabilitation, as we do not know when to withdraw the water rises and. We have great sympathy.
"In rehabilitation and restoration, you come back even stronger, and we expect even more of Thailand in the future," she said.
Earlier, when the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the international leaders, their political will by the climate change initiatives that point to an upcoming conference in South Africa against the backdrop of the tsunami in Thailand.
Addressing a joint press conference with Ms Yingluck during his one-day visit in Bangkok yesterday, said Ban countries need to address the issue of climate change urgently tackle.
"I urge the leaders to address these issues with a sense of urgency," he said. "We have no time to lose."
He reiterated the UN's support for Thailand in its efforts to recover from the disaster.
Reasons refused to demolish wall
Settlement angry residents remove bags
The Flood Relief Operations Command has shot a demand for a new set of flood affected residents to open a gap in the "big bag" barrage on Phahon Yothin road.
About 200 residents of the settlements along the main road from some of the bags on top of the barrier near the air force base yesterday afternoon, unleashing streams of water through a 3.5-meter distance.
They demanded that an opening be made of at least 10m into the barrier. The incident occurred about 14.45 clock at the Directorate of Air Operations Control Lam Luk Ka district intersection in Pathum Thani.
However, dismissed the Froc their demand. Froc spokesman said Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen Froc decided not to call upon the inhabitants arc, as it could worsen the flood situation in inner Bangkok.
The demonstrators will meet at 11 Froc clock today at other options, such as discussing turning part of the barrier in a weir, in order to expedite the flow of flood.
Sunk, the military idea proposed earlier this week by another group of residents in Don Muang district to demolish the Froc part of the barrier on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road to the flow of flood, which is still high and their living quarters for nearly a month sp
Dry in town next month, said the Dutch expert
Bangkok should be dry by early next month, says Adri Verwey, senior specialist for modeling of systems in Deltares, a Dutch-based independent Water Research Institute.
But he added a cautionary note: "If something dramatic happens, like a dike breach."
Mr Verwey was invited by the government to assist them in dealing with the flood situation with Dutch know-how. He has 40 years experience in this area and the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) works for 11 October.
Mr. Verwey stated his conclusion differs from the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), on 10 November forecast that flooding in Bangkok would be emptied in 11 days.
"You can say you have an enormous pumping capacity. But for water to get there, it will take longer because only a number of these pumps can be used effectively."
However, acknowledged, Mr. Verwey, that predictions, forecasts are like weather. you can predict, for three days, but is only three weeks before a best estimate.
The "best estimate" is often a problem in what many have the kingdom of the worst flood disaster called. Both the Froc and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have been criticized for politicizing the flood situation and provide inaccurate information to the public.
Unprecedented efforts have been class action lawsuits initiated by scientists and the Law Society of Thailand against the government for its alleged mismanagement of the crisis.
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most politicized, the Dutch expert rated the politicization of the flood disaster in Figure 7.
"Should perhaps 7 or so, this is [ideally] be it two," he said.
Mr. Verwey pointed out that if there were closer cooperation between the various agencies and the roles clearly defined, the flooding would have been better managed.
"Too much to [handle] the municipalities had left."
What the performance of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, he said: "I have seen tremendous efforts of her and she has done many good things."
What has not seen Mr. Verwey, is an effective forecasting system.
He said Thailand will benefit from improved technologies such as satellite images, radar and model simulations.
"The knowledge must be developed. This knowledge was not there."
An ongoing controversy is the strategy of flooding in the northern parts of Bangkok included, leading to prolonged flooding and misery for the residents in districts such as Don Muang.
The situation has led to protests and residents to remove it upon himself, the big bag. Froc The finally agreed that a small gap could thus allowing high water may have an electrical outlet.
Said "It's the only way to save the heart of Bangkok, otherwise the damage would have been much greater," Mr. Verwey.
He said that is the center of Bangkok, not equipped, in order to treat an "enormous" amount of water.
This flood crisis is complex and unique, he said. Normally, floods occur much faster, but the northern outflow was only very slowly. It was very spread out and do not appear threatening. But after the Dutch expert, it has a "tremendous achievement" and the making "underestimated".
Should the situation have "underestimated" been?
"Any government that you had been at that moment would be a big problem, and whether they have done better or worse, it's hard to say."
Water, he said, depends on the "rules" of the participating agencies. This has been an issue on 10th November, when agriculture minister admitted the government had decided Theera Wongsamut, the release of water from the land of big dams delay so the farmers could harvest their first crop.
Everything could have been better managed if there is a central organizational structure. Mr. Verwey such a central structure compared with that of the Water Board in the Netherlands.
But should not that be the responsibility of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, or the irrigation department?
"That I can not. What I can say is that you have to figure out how to come together and work together."
No comments:
Post a Comment