BANGKOK, Jan 19 — The Minister of Interior restated its pledge to provide material aid to cold-stricken victims in 28 provinces country wide, while the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has worked with authorites in each provincecentres to deal with the effects of cold.
Disaster chief Chatchai Promlert said that 28 provinces are experiencing severe winter weather, 12 provinces in the north, 14 provinces in the northeast and two provinces in the central region, causing a total of 320 districts to be affected by the cold or around 36.71 per cent of the total villages nationwide.
The department has coordinated with each province to set up special centres specifically to help deal with the cold weather.
The centres are organising authorities track the weather, said Mr Chatchai, noting that the public must prepare for continued cold weather by taking more precaution when using fire, along with looking after their health by wearing warm clothes.
In the meantime, Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda ordered all provincial offices to provide the speedy assistance to cold victims, including winter clothing and necessities to those in need, taking into account those who are the worst hit. (MCOT online news)
