Drought crisis in Thailand 2020
Images adapted from: POH TECK TUNG FOUNDATION
Droughts have been an ongoing problem for locals in Thailand, but 2020 sees what seems to be the worst drought in the country in 40 years.
Amid the crisis, rescue foundation Poh Teck Tung has come together to support locals who have been affected in Thailand’s north-eastern region.
Free drinking water and survival kits
Image credit: POH TECK TUNG FOUNDATION
On 26th February 2020, over 1000 survival kits were distributed to local households in the provinces of Udonthani and Bueng Kan. In the kits are necessities and consumables like rice, instant noodles, canned fish, fish sauce, cooking oil and more.
Image credit: POH TECK TUNG FOUNDATION
Poh Teck Tung has planned to continue giving out these survival kits and drinking water to people in other provinces like Nakhon Panom, Kalasin, and Mahasarakham as well.
Image credit: POH TECK TUNG FOUNDATION
The foundation is determined to offer these survival kits to locals in a total of 13 provinces located in the northern and north-eastern regions of Thailand.
What could be the worst drought in 40 years
This year’s dry spell seems to be going strong, with harmful consequences on the country’s agricultural industry. Surapong Sarapa, head of forecasting at the Thai Meteorological Department shared that the drought “has come earlier this year” and that “more parts of the country than in the past could be impacted.”
The lack of water has also caused the Chao Phraya River to run on a low tide, resulting in tap water turning salty in many parts of Bangkok City due to the river not being able to keep seawater out.
We can only hope that the situation wouldn’t turn out to be as bad as predictions day. In that case, we might need to dance for rain again this year.
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