During what have been described as the worst floods to hit Thailand in 50 years, ShelterBox Response Teams are distributing emergency shelter and equipment to families in need.
Nine-month pregnant Ladda Bangkaew was in her home in Rangsit, Thailand, when the flood waters came in around her. She was evacuated by boat and went into labour on the way to the military evacuation centre. Her daughter was born on board the boat and the first days of her life were spent living in a hallway of the evacuation facility.
When the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) arrived, baby Nam (meaning ‘water’ in Thai) was only five days old. Although Ladda and her family had a roof over their heads, the nurse was concerned about the lack of privacy and comfortable surroundings for the new mother and baby. The team was able to offer Ladda a ShelterBox tent to give her the privacy she deserved in an otherwise crowded facility.
SRT member, Jennifer Kormendy (CA), said: ‘It was great to be able to help Ladda and her family in this way. She immediately moved her few belongings into the tent and her smile was contagious as she settled in with her baby. The box itself even made a safe, comfortable crib for baby Nam.’
Thousands affected
It is over three weeks since floodwaters first arrived in Thailand’s capital city but vast areas remain submerged in water and residents are resigned to spending weeks in temporary shelter before they can return home. Ladda is one of around 300 people being housed temporarily at the Nor-Tor-Por Armed Forces Command Centre near Bangkok. Being the only dry ground in the area, more people are arriving every day but the facility has reached its capacity. ShelterBox tents are helping house the additional families who have been forced to leave their homes.
ShelterBox has already distributed over 700 tents and 1700 mosquito nets to help shelter and protect families affected by the extensive flooding in Thailand and teams are continuing to identify need and distribute much needed shelter and supplies.
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