[VOD & News] King and Queen of Thailand, PM send their condolences. / THAILAND 'STANDS READY' TO HELP JAPAN OVERCOME DISASTER

[News] King and Queen of Thailand, PM send their condolences. / THAILAND 'STANDS READY' TO HELP JAPAN OVERCOME DISASTER.
Cr. - http://www.bangkokpost.com/
Published: 13/03/2011 at 12:00 AM

Their Majesties the King and Queen have sent their heartfelt condolences to emperor of Japan after Friday's earthquake and tsunami.

"The Queen and I are deeply distressed and saddened by reports of the earthquake and tsunami which have left in their wakes immense loss of human lives and untold devastation," wrote His Majesty the King in the message of condolence.

"We wish to extend our sincerest sympathy and condolences to Your Majesty and, through you, to all those who have been inflicted with loss and bereavements in this natural disaster."

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also sent his deepest condolences to those who have been affected by the disaster via a message to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

"I am confident that under your strong leadership, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts will be carried out effectively," said Mr Abhisit in his message.

"Thailand stands ready to assist Japan in mitigating the effects of these natural disasters."

The government has announced it is providing five million baht in immediate financial aid for Japan.

Prime Minister Abhisit has assigned Foreign Affairs and Labour ministries to set up a help centre for Thais in Japan. He promised Thailand will consider providing other types of aid to Japan.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Thais are gathering funds to help provide aid to Japan, with some saying they want to reciprocate the support Japan offered to Thailand in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that devastated large areas near the Indian Ocean.

"I know Japan is rich, but we need to express our sympathy to them," said TV Channel 3 news anchor Sorayut Suthasanajinda.

"They provided huge help to us when the tsunami hit Thailand, and the Thai and Japanese people are very close friends."

The three big mobile phone networks are coordinating to enable subscribers to raise money by sending text messages to specific numbers, with the network providers then passing on the revenue to the fund-raising drive, the newspaper reported.

The government called an urgent meeting with concerned state agencies at the Foreign Ministry on Saturday to discuss plans to provide assistance to Japan.

The meeting, chaired by Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, was made up of representatives from the Air Force, the public health, defence, interior and justice ministries and the National Police Office.

Mr Kasit said the government agreed to send 24 Thai rescue teams and six sniffer dogs to Japan to help search for survivors and bodies.

The team is set to leave Bangkok for Japan today.

He added that 35 doctors from the Public Health Ministry were on standby to travel to Japan to help treat any Thai people injured in the earthquake, while the national police office was ready to send a team to assist in identifying any Thai bodies.

Mr Kasit said the Foreign Ministry will also send necessary items such as blankets, plastic sheets and dried food to Japan and it has opened a Krung Thai bank account to accept donations.

The account number at Krung Thai is 0020217468.

The foreign minister will meet Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Seiji Kojima today at the Foreign Ministry in order to ask him what help Thailand could provide to Japan.

Mr Kasit said no Thais living in Japan have yet to be reported dead or injured.

About 50,000 Thais live in Japan.

Of them, 30,000 are in Tokyo and about 300 live in Miyagi prefecture, which was hit the hardest by the catastrophe.

At the Labour Ministry, about 100 relatives of Thai labourers working in Japan have sought help in contacting their loved ones.

Dozens of Thai and Japanese people yesterday laid flowers in front of the Japanese Embassy on Bangkok's Witthayu Road.

Tsunami hits Sendia Japan after massive earthquake - 2011