The government has warned governors and district chiefs that they will be held responsible if any area encounters problems with citizen registrations for flood relief funds, following an incident involving a 66-year-old man who was seen sobbing in distress after being scolded by officials. Authorities stressed the importance of helping and being a reliable support for the people.
On 3 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) of the Ministry of Interior announced the opening of the registration system for flood relief aid. This applies to residents whose homes were affected between 15 May and 30 Sep 2026, covering 65 provinces and Bangkok, through the “Thang Rat” application, with registration open from 2 Oct 2026 onwards.
Ms. Ploytale stated that flood victims can register for relief funds through two methods: 1. Registering via the “Thang Rat” application, which links to the civil registration database for immediate verification and allows real-time status tracking; and 2. Submitting documents in person at local administrative organizations or district offices within Bangkok.
“Following the widely shared image of a 66-year-old man sobbing after being scolded with the remark ‘You can use Line, so why not learn the Thang Rat app?’ and multiple victims acknowledging that the registration process is quite difficult, Deputy Minister of Interior Mr. Polpeer Suwanchavee ordered provincial, district, and local administrative officials in flood-affected areas to urgently provide full assistance to the public, especially the elderly and vulnerable groups. They must proactively reach out to help rather than wait for people to ask for aid. Local government officials and civil servants must be a dependable support for citizens registering for government relief funds. If any area encounters problems, the provincial governor and district chief must take responsibility. The Ministry of Interior’s role is to alleviate hardship and improve well-being, not to add to citizens’ difficulties,” Ms. Ploytale said.