Rapid Assessment for Resilient Recovery and ... - GFDRR

Agricultural laborers have also been severely affected with their income generation activities
temporarily suspended due to the floods. These usually include daily work in rice fields,
vegetable gardens or orchards, as well as cleaning and construction work. Both on and
off-farm sources of income were significantly reduced for this particular group with limited
demand reported for domestic work, restaurant or construction jobs. 160
In addition to the reduction of income outlined above, the research team also noted an
increase in household expenditures in both rural and urban areas. In some of the affected
urban areas, the poorest households were reported to have moved out of their homes
during the flood and are currently living in evacuation centers, where they are able to get
support covering basic expenditures. In particular, the ability to have three regular meals in
evacuation centers was mentioned by participants in the study as crucial in helping them
cope with lost income. For those remaining in their homes, the cost of transport has also
increased drastically. This was more pronounced in areas that do not experience recurrent
flooding and where boats are not usually available. Some of the households interviewed in
Uthai Thani reported that the cost of their daily commute had increased to THB 200 to
500/day. 161 In addition, rural households in particular referred to the added expense of
having to purchase produce they would normally grow themselves for consumption by
household members. 162
Coping Strategies and Livelihood Adaptations
“One Million Baht Urban Fund cannot help people anymore. We only provided loans to
the people who have the capacity to pay. With the floods, no one wants to pay back. We
had to skip the August and September payments, and extend out debt payment period to
November. The poor in our community cannot get our loans. They rely on people with the
helmet with high interests (informal money lenders)”. One Million Baht Fund Manager in
Nakhon Sawan Municipality area.
“I am the only income earner in the family. I earned 350 baht per day selling desserts and
peanuts. I had to take three loans from the informal lenders to survive using one payment
to pay for the others, and keep borrowing more. I have no savings”. Poorest female identified
by a Community Head of Nakhon Sawan Municipality.
The research team found no significant reports of reduction in food consumption in the
areas visited. This can be partly attributed to the pre-flood situation in the targeted provinces
(as outlined in the introductory section) as well as to the sufficient availability of relief
goods. These were found to be adequate to meet nutrition needs of affected households
in nearly all sites visited, with a number of instances reported of a surplus of relief items by
respondents. In addition, there were no instances observed in the areas visited of negative
coping strategies, including of children having to work to earn more money for the family in
urban areas. In all sites visited, families seemed to have remained together.
160
Agricultural laborers expect that working opportunities will emerge once reconstruction activities start in affected areas.
161
Most respondents previously walked to work or used motorcycles with limited costs incurred. Prior to the floods THB50
for commuting to work would have been considered already significantly high.
162
Concerns regarding increase in food prices were also noted by the research team in the majority of the areas visited.
220 THAI FLOOD 2011 RAPID ASSESSMENT FOR RESILIENT RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION PLANNING