Deputy PM Mobilizes Private Sector Aid for Nan Flood Victims

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthammaphan announced on August 21 that her ministry is coordinating with private sector partners and the Pharmaceutical Organization to collect essential supplies and distribute relief bags to flood-affected residents in Nan province. Concerned about the situation affecting northern Thailand residents, she has instructed her ministry to provide full assistance by mobilizing food, drinking water, milk, essential items, and medicines from private businesses and related agencies. "The Commerce Ministry wants to deliver aid to people quickly, especially in the early stages of disaster. Essential everyday items will greatly ease people's suffering, so we are urgently coordinating with the private sector and relevant agencies to support and dispatch supplies to Nan province," she said. The relief effort has garnered cooperation from the Internal Trade Department's private business network and the Pharmaceutical Organization, which are contributing ready-to-drink milk, instant noodles, canned fish and fish products, drinking water, sanitary pads, soap, shampoo, laundry products, cleaning solutions, tissue paper, and necessary medicines and medical supplies. The Internal Trade Department is packing approximately 500 to 1,000 relief bags for efficient transport and distribution to disaster victims. Officials are working urgently to pack and prepare these bags for delivery to Nan province by Friday, August 21, with rapid distribution to affected residents. Supporting companies include One Thai Food Industry, Thai President Foods, Saha Pathana Pibul, Thai Food Products Manufacturing, Thai Union Group, Royal Foods, Pattaya Food Industry, Thai Nam Tip Corporation, Nestle Thailand, Friesland Campina Thailand, F&N Dairies Thailand, Dutch Mill, Green Spot, Lactasoy, Kao Industrial Thailand, and the Pharmaceutical Organization. "On behalf of the Commerce Ministry, I thank the private sector, the Pharmaceutical Organization, and all sectors for supporting this relief effort," Suphajee said. "We will expedite delivery of all supplies to disaster areas to reach Nan residents as quickly as possible and send encouragement to all affected people to safely overcome this crisis."