Thailand flood toll tops 600

Baan Sang Khom Childcare Center

Thailand (MNN) ― Thailand is still experiencing flooding in the Bangkok area. The death toll tops 600, and damages are estimated around $10 billion dollars.

According to government reports, 18 provinces are still underwater, including the capital: Bangkok. Waters are receding in 46 other provinces. However, early indicators are that more than 13 million people (or one in five Thais) have been affected.

Tens of thousands of businesses were damaged, putting over a million of employees at the risk of losing their jobs. Nearly a quarter of the crops were also waterlogged.   

AMG Thailand last week reported that they had escaped the high waters. But workers say the Baan Sang Khom Childcare Center has since been flooded. The project is in the middle of the slum. Center director Pramwadee says both the center and the church are located near the sea, so the height of the flooding is determined by sea level.

Unfortunately, that means the streets around the church areas--including the neighboring communities and many of the children's home--are flooded. 

In the wake of evacuation, parents in the area have sent their children to family in less flood-prone areas, especially since the government announced the schools in the flooded areas will remain closed until the waters recede and the land dries out.

AMG has a sponsorship program for 25-30 children at the center where the children get a meal and homework support. On weekends, there is Bible teaching and singing. All the parents are invited on special occasions such as Christmas. Right now, things have been disrupted in the scatter.

To help flood victims, AMG put together survivor packs including rice, noodles, canned fish, oil, fish sauce, tissue, and snacks, which are delivered by local church members.

Pray that many hearts will be softened, and that many people will learn to trust God. Pray too that the ministry will resume soon.

Thailand floods could last into new year

AMG Thailand getting relief
 supplies ready.

Thailand (MNN) ― While the floodwaters in Thailand are finally receding, the Prime Minister warns that the high water may last until next year.

Government reports indicate that the death toll of Thailand's worst flooding in at least five decades was 564. People are slowly coming back after a mandatory evacuation hit 1/3 of Bangkok's districts. The rains put 700,000 people out of work and caused billions in damage.

Thailand has seen about 3.8 million acres of farmland inundated, forcing the government to cut its estimate for this year's main crop by 24%. This week, the United States announced a $10 million aid package to help get the country back on its feet.

The disaster has hit many ministries in the region. AMG Thailandhas two childcare centers in central Thailand: Living Stream and Bright Home. While both stayed dry, survivors in the community need food, medicine, rain boots or similar shoes to protect their feet, and small flat-bottom boats for transportation.

AMG's missionary in Chiang Mai, Ron Hamme, says, "As for our child-care centers in Nan and Museekee (northern Thailand), they are NOT flooded. Earlier flooding in Nan did wipe out the electricity to Camp Joy and the Joy Youth Development Center for about two months, but they are again with power. "

AMG National Director in Thailand, Chowkee Zaw Min, lives in Bangkok and reports: "By the Grace of God, [at] this time, the office, our homes, and all of the AMG childcare centers ARE SAFE. However, the only childcare center in Bangkok (most of the AMG childcare centers in Thailand are in the mountains or highlands in Northern Thailand),  Baan Sang Khom (with 35 AMG-sponsored children), will probably be affected because it is near the sea."

Chowke has been in constant communication with the Baan Sang Khom project director. The ministry not only sent funds but also made plans for evacuation, temporary housing, and emergency supplies for the families." The team also bought several small boats for the center, so people can move around and get help from the government and others that are providing relief. 

The Thailand flooding provided yet another opportunity for AMG to share the compassion of Christ by meeting physical as well as spiritual needs in areas where AMG had already been working for years.

AMG is asking for funding help in order to continue to respond to these needs and to show the love of Christ to people who need recovery assistance.

Worst of Thai flooding effects yet to come

Mission Network News: "Thailand (MNN) ― The atmosphere in Thailand is tense, to say the least. Some are fleeing their homes, others are staying put out of necessity for farming or because they simply have nowhere to go.

Those remaining in their homes are living in water-filled houses, most swimming in sewage."

Read more...

More rains could add to lethal flooding

Mission Network News: "More rains could add to lethal flooding"

Thailand (MNN) ― More than 760,000 people have been affected by flooding in Thailand, and at least 83 have been killed. Even more waters now threaten to drench the area, according to the UN's humanitarian news and analysis service, IRIN. Read more...

Refugees in Thailand face double whammy

Thailand (MNN) ― Karen refugees in Thailand camps say deadly flooding and landslides have destroyed many homes, forcing several hundred to find shelter in nearby churches and schools.

The high waters were triggered two weeks ago by Tropical Storm Nock Ten. In its wake, the Department of Disaster Mitigation and Protection says roughly a quarter of the country and just over a million people have been affected.

Dyann Romeijn with Vision Beyond Borders says they have heard from their partner in the Thai refugee camps, but assessing damages is still in the early stages. "It's tough to know exactly what's happening, because unfortunately, nobody can actually get down to those camps because the roads are not cleared."

There are reports that government soldiers have been sent to try to clear the bodies and the roads. As bad as the damages are in the camps, VBB's team has good news. "We have been on the phone with our contact from our Children Homes. All the houses around our dorms are swept away; our dorms are the only one still standing!" Romeijn adds, "We're hoping that the kids are still able to attend school, whether it be in the dorms or wherever they're able to meet."

Some of the warehouse structures suffered water damage, which brings another concern. "They reported to us that over 3,000 bags of rice were destroyed in that camp," says Romeijn. "It sounds like a lot of the food supply has been eliminated. It's difficult to get in there, so it is going to be a difficult situation."

Aside from food and shelter, the VBB team reports a need for medical supplies to treat "waterborne diseases, malaria, typhoid fever and then just the coughs and congestions and stuff that you see as a result of the standing water and being damp and cold without adequate shelter. We see an increase of all those things in a camp that already has limited medical supplies," says Romeijn, although so far, relief agencies say there has been no outbreak of major disease among flooding victims in the camps.

For those who survived the immediate emergency, the wait for aid is the biggest threat to continued well-being. The roads are still completely blocked. "We'll just be working without contacts on this to see when they can actually get in. They're right there close to the affected areas. I'm sure that as soon they can get in, they will, and then we'll have more information."

Pray that the VBB team will find a way to bring supplies of food to the refugees and to the dorms. Their ministry partner explains, "The only option to bring food to all the camps is to take boats on the dangerous Salaween River; this river separates Thailand and Burma. There are many Burmese soldiers camps based on the Burma river banks."

The relief plays a critical role in outreach. It creates many opportunities for hope, which Romeijn says is why VBB exists. "Our purpose is primarily to share the Gospel and to call the Christians in America to pray for these people. That's [something] everyone can do."

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