Severe flooding in early January 2017 damaged property and infrastructure across southern Thailand.

USAID/OFDA

Key Developments

Heavy monsoon rains beginning in early January 2017 resulted in severe flooding across southern Thailand, affecting more than 1.2 million people in 12 provinces, according to the Royal Thai Government (RTG) Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). DDPM reported that, as of January 12, 2017, the floods had resulted in 36 deaths, two missing persons, and an estimated $85 million in damage to agriculture, aquaculture, infrastructure, and property. On January 6, 2017, DDPM declared a Level 3—the second-highest on a four-tier scale—national disaster and activated national and regional emergency operations centers.

On January 11, 2017, U.S. Ambassador Glyn T. Davies declared a disaster due to the effects of the floods. In response, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) provided $100,000 to Save the Children to support the distribution of emergency relief supplies to affected populations. Prior to the disaster declaration, USAID/OFDA deployed staff to southern Thailand to assess the humanitarian situation and begin coordinating potential USG response activities with RTG officials and other response actors.

Background

Thailand’s long coastline and many islands make the country particularly vulnerable to flooding and typhoons. When disaster strikes, USAID/OFDA works with the RTG, non-governmental organizations, and UN agencies to meet humanitarian needs and complement local relief efforts. In addition to disaster response, USAID/OFDA supports a number of activities to mitigate disaster risk in Thailand and help government authorities, emergency responders, and communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters.