“I was so scared when the flood came but I feel better now. My house was not flooded but my school was severely hit,” Korn, a fourth-grade student, shared his firsthand experience. Although not injured, he cannot go to school until it is restored.
Northern Thailand experienced devastating natural disasters in August and September 2024. The mountainous region, including Mae Fa Luang District in Chiang Rai Province, was particularly hard hit by flash floods and landslides. One of the areas severely affected was Rutrajwittaya School in Mae Salong Nai Sub-district, within World Vision Thailand’s Mae Salong Project. The school suffered significant damage from a landslide caused by flash floods that buried the playground and school buildings, rendering the school unable to operate normally.
“The school was severely damaged by the landslide. The playground, where students used to engage in various activities, was completely buried in mud. The school buildings were also damaged. Although the community and government agencies have been working together to remove the mud, many buildings and learning materials remain damaged and require repair,” Dr Sarawut Rachasrimuang, National Director of World Vision Thailand, shares the current situation of the school and community.
In response to the situation, World Vision Thailand immediately deployed a team to the affected areas to provide urgent assistance in partnership with the volunteers of Sansiri’s No One Left Behind project. This included a field visit to monitor the situation and packing relief packages for the affected people.
Mr Samatcha Promsiri reveals his feeling from the ground: “We witnessed firsthand the extent of the damage and the hardships faced by the community, which was far worse than what we saw in the news. We also found that the villagers were unsure of how to cope with similar events in the future.” Mr Samatcha Promsiri also highlights the importance of building disaster prevention and preparedness measures, which could help reduce future damage and losses.
Even though the emergency relief phase has concluded, World Vision Thailand remains committed to implementing the post-flood recovery project. This includes repairing houses and schools, providing essential household items, livelihood support, learning materials, and tools for income generation.
“The most important thing is to enable the school to reopen as soon as possible so that children can return to their studies and grow in a safe and nurturing environment as before. On behalf of World Vision Thailand, I would like to invite all the like-minded to join us in rebuilding the school and community.” Dr Sarawut Rachasrimuang emphasises his commitment to the cause and calls on everyone to join forces in rebuilding the community after the floods.
Mr Samatcha Promsiri also shared: “It is not too late to help. There are many ways to help. Emergency relief is one form, but recovery efforts are mid-term and long-term assistance. We need to sit down and understand what we can do to help, which is crucial.
I would like to invite anyone who has the capacity and resources to join us in helping those who are less fortunate. If you have the financial means, I encourage you to contribute.” https://give.worldvision.or.th/mzsNNd
