Thailand’s Democrat Party urges rapid disaster compensation for Phuket floods
Democrat Party spokesman Phongsakorn Khwanmuang said flooding and landslides in Phuket and southern provinces should qualify for the government’s disaster-insurance scheme because they occurred after 1 October.
Thailand’s Democrat Party has urged the government to speed up assistance and compensation for people affected by flooding and landslides in Phuket and other southern provinces.
Party spokesman Phongsakorn Khwanmuang said on 31 October that the damage in Phuket showed the party’s earlier warnings were not an attempt to gain publicity. The party had previously raised concerns about conditions in Trang and Phuket and called for an emergency response and relief measures.
Phongsakorn was responding to comments from a deputy government spokeswoman who had accused the Democrat Party of seeking attention. He said the government should listen to affected residents and act urgently, adding that officials working mainly in Bangkok might not have heard the concerns of people in the South.
The spokesman called for clearer public information about the assistance co-ordination centre established in Phuket, including its responsibilities, the help residents can request and any supplies or support still needed.
He also urged the government to accelerate damage assessments and compensation. Phongsakorn said the current flooding and landslides occurred clearly after 1 October and therefore met the criteria for access to the government’s disaster-insurance scheme, according to the party.
He cited previous fixed compensation amounts of B5,000 when water surrounded a house and B9,000 when water entered a house, saying earlier victims in Bangkok had not received full relief because of legal restrictions and the timing of those incidents. The party called for disaster-insurance funds to reach affected residents quickly and fairly.
