The 2011 floods in north and central Thailand has affected 58 provinces, with 12 severely impacted. Among the 2.3 million people affected are about 200,000 migrant workers who contribute to Thailands industrial, agricultural, and service sectors.
NGO networks have obtained recent information on the status of affected migrants from migrant groups in Bangkok and Samut Sakorn and an assistance hotline. Findings are: - Some migrant workers are still trapped in flooded areas and have not received any assistance due to lack of information, poor communications, and limited access to assistance mechanisms. - Some of them have left the flooded areas and are now staying with relatives and friends in other areas, or have moved into official shelters, while others decided to return to their country of origin. - Migrant workers have encountered obstacles in trying to evacuate from affected areas. Because some employers have not allowed migrant worker leave their factories, these workers have been omitted from disaster risk assessments and have limited access to assistance. - At present, due to access and communication barriers, we still do not know the exact number of flood-affected migrant workers.
Problems encountered in attempts to assist flood-affected migrant workers: - Language and communication barriers have made it difficult to locate affected communities and provide timely assistance. - Food, medicine, and essential non-food items are distributed according to the house registration records As many migrants are undocumented they are excluded from receiving this aid. - Migrant workers have limited access to essential information as all sources, including the official telephone hotline service, are only available in Thai. Migrants are thus unable to access important information on health, sanitation and infectious diseases, which pose a major risk in flooded areas. - Some migrant workers do not have access to their essential documents such as ID cards and work permits as many were lost due to the floods or they were kept by their employer. According to Thai law, they are not allowed to move out of their registered working areas. Migrants therefore risk arrest when moving out of flood-affected communities to go to assistance shelters. The media has reported several such incidents.
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Preliminary assistance to migrant workers - Disaster assistance centers, volunteer groups, NGOs and migrant networks have provided food, medicine, and non-food items but attempts are still limited. - There has been cooperation between the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and migrant networks to streamline assistance to migrants in affected areas, though until now this has only occurred in Ayudhaya and Pathum Thani provinces. - Shelters for those affected by the flood are open to everyone, including migrants. - NGOs working with migrant communities are proving volunteer translators to work in the shelters but their numbers are still limited. We are providing assistance information through telephone help lines. For Thai language, please call 085 332 7553, for Burmese, please call 081 889 5345 - For media who want more information, please call 089 6454111: Roisai Wongsuban, Migrant Working Group Policy Coordinator.
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