Government grilled on border relief gaps
Speaking in the House of Representatives on Thursday, the People's Party leader urged the government to streamline its relief schemes through a one-stop service centre and revise regulations to ensure payments are made fairly and cover all households.
He cited complaints from residents that they returned from evacuation centres only to find utility bills waiting at their homes despite the government's pledge to waive water and electricity charges.
Others reported delays in receiving compensation for lost income, while families whose homes or vehicles were damaged were left uncertain about the procedures required to claim assistance.
The opposition leader also called on the government to address the welfare of frontline personnel, including village defence volunteers and health workers, many of whom continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and cannot fully perform their duties.
Responding on behalf of the prime minister, Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich insisted the government has been providing continuous assistance since the clashes began on July 24 clashes.
She said 100 million baht had already been allocated to seven border provinces to expedite relief. Evacuees, she said, received immediate support through local budgets, while those returning home were provided with essential supplies.
Reviewing housing damage, Ms Theerarat said repairs were already under way. In Surin, 58 of 107 damaged homes had been repaired, while in Ubon Ratchathani, 129 of 137 had been restored.
Buri Ram reported 14 of 16 homes fixed, and in Si Sa Ket, 134 of 445 homes had been repaired. In addition, she noted, private donors had provided prefabricated houses for families whose homes were destroyed.
Regarding water and electricity bills, Ms Theerarat explained that the waiver applied only from early July, and some households may have received backdated bills from June or early July. The Provincial Electricity Authority had been instructed to offset those payments against future bills, she said.
The deputy minister also noted that affected areas had been formally declared disaster zones in 42 districts across seven provinces, which allowed targeted relief to continue in phases: immediate, medium-term and long-term.
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Bangkok Post
8 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Government grilled on border relief gaps
Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has criticised what he described as slow, uneven and unclear compensation measures for people affected by the recent Thai–Cambodian border clashes. Speaking in the House of Representatives on Thursday, the People's Party leader urged the government to streamline its relief schemes through a one-stop service centre and revise regulations to ensure payments are made fairly and cover all households. He cited complaints from residents that they returned from evacuation centres only to find utility bills waiting at their homes despite the government's pledge to waive water and electricity charges. Others reported delays in receiving compensation for lost income, while families whose homes or vehicles were damaged were left uncertain about the procedures required to claim assistance. The opposition leader also called on the government to address the welfare of frontline personnel, including village defence volunteers and health workers, many of whom continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and cannot fully perform their duties. Responding on behalf of the prime minister, Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich insisted the government has been providing continuous assistance since the clashes began on July 24 clashes. She said 100 million baht had already been allocated to seven border provinces to expedite relief. Evacuees, she said, received immediate support through local budgets, while those returning home were provided with essential supplies. Reviewing housing damage, Ms Theerarat said repairs were already under way. In Surin, 58 of 107 damaged homes had been repaired, while in Ubon Ratchathani, 129 of 137 had been restored. Buri Ram reported 14 of 16 homes fixed, and in Si Sa Ket, 134 of 445 homes had been repaired. In addition, she noted, private donors had provided prefabricated houses for families whose homes were destroyed. Regarding water and electricity bills, Ms Theerarat explained that the waiver applied only from early July, and some households may have received backdated bills from June or early July. The Provincial Electricity Authority had been instructed to offset those payments against future bills, she said. The deputy minister also noted that affected areas had been formally declared disaster zones in 42 districts across seven provinces, which allowed targeted relief to continue in phases: immediate, medium-term and long-term.
Bangkok Post
10 hours ago
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