A heated controversy has erupted in the volunteer sector after someone posted that a relief team trying to deliver rice, food, and drinking water to distressed residents in the Khlong Chan housing area, Bang Kapi, were stopped by officials. They were told to wait because the Prime Minister was about to visit and would have the supplies delivered again later. This caused great frustration among volunteers because the area includes bedridden patients, young children, and residents waiting for food.
Recently, Thairath Entertainment contacted “Boom Panadda Wongpudee” the president of the Thamdee Foundation, who openly shared the obstacles faced in flood relief efforts and warned the public to prepare for severe flooding from northern water and dam releases.
“The water level from the northern floods is coming. I must say upfront that Bangkok will have to cope. Areas like Rangsit, Ayutthaya, Bang Ban, Ang Thong, and Suphanburi need to prepare because this happens regularly. We don’t yet know how severe it will be, but the problem now is that Bangkok is trying to drain water out, but the Bang Pakong River can’t handle it, so it’s unclear where the water will go. Water is also rising around Chachoengsao.
Nakhon Nayok is also in trouble because of water released from the Pa Sak Cholasit Dam. The problem there is that the dam can’t hold back the water. It’s over 90 percent full, and a dam break would be disastrous beyond imagination. So, releasing water now is the right move.
Regarding the residents and communities, speaking from my experience in the field: If I were an official, I would have ordered from day one to move the cars blocking the bridge. Fifteen rescue teams there could reach each building quickly if the cars were moved, for example to NIDA. The authorities have the power to do this if it obstructs traffic and causes distress to the public. This is a matter of life and death when people haven’t eaten. Supplies have to be loaded onto high vehicles and brought in, but when they reach the bridge blocked by cars, the team has to unload and carry supplies by foot across the bridge, then take a boat. I ask, why? Just for a few cars?
If those cars were cleared, aid could reach inside easily and quickly. Deliveries could be made faster without having to carry goods by hand. I’m puzzled that with such high-level visits, no one clears these obstacles. It makes the work very difficult.
Last night at Romklao around 10 p.m., the relief team couldn’t deliver rice to residents because they were told to wait for the Prime Minister’s convoy. I don’t think the Prime Minister knew about this. My own team was ready to send the food in the evening, but officials said, 'Please wait for the Prime Minister, we’re afraid of complaints.' The officials themselves said to wait for the Prime Minister to pass first.
From 10:00 p.m. until 10:36 p.m., we couldn’t wait any longer because there were bedridden patients who needed food. I apologized to the Prime Minister and decided to break through the blockade. We sneaked the food in because it was so distressing. Honestly, it was very frustrating. The Prime Minister can come and go, but his convoy is huge, as is the media convoy. But when it comes to visiting people, it’s one thing — the Prime Minister is not at fault. Frankly, he probably didn’t even know about this situation.
The ones ordering this probably thought the rescue boats might cause trouble. I don’t know what happened, but please don’t say the Prime Minister shouldn’t come because aid gets stopped. Everything is a race against time. When there are thousands in buildings and only 500 meal boxes can be delivered at a time over several trips, many trips are needed. I experienced this and got very upset last night.
If you could tell the Prime Minister something, what would it be?
“I don’t know what to say, but I know he is sincere. He genuinely wants to visit the people. You can see his intention. But his team around him is not okay. They keep saying to just learn lessons, but it’s too late. I apologize to the people for the delayed food deliveries.”
So now, whenever the Prime Minister visits, people are not happy to welcome him?
“People aren’t welcoming, but truly, he sincerely wants to visit. He probably doesn’t know that the officials on site are acting this way.”
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