Rapid Assessment for Resilient Recovery and ... - GFDRR

about the programs to have been poorly conveyed and the support itself not well targeted
and insufficient. Participants in the SIA reported a number of instances where support
or compensation that had been promised (for example compensation for crop damage
caused by pests) was never delivered or were inadequate. 169 Given the current level of
mistrust of government programs observed in rural areas, tension among communities
regarding equitable and timely access to recovery assistance is likely to intensify as the
water subsides. This is particularly likely to affect areas, notably urban areas, that do not
have strong community networks to rely on to oversee the equitable distribution of
assistance. 170
4.3 Provision of Relief Assistance and Governance
“ Surprised...People are suffering this much. How can local authorities keep taking sides?
If people are not in their group, no way to get help. It’s others from outside who lend their
hands.”
IDI male, 49 years, from Patan sub-district, Muang district, Lop Buri province, at Shelter:
Technical College.
Types of Assistance Provided
Government institutions have taken the lead in the provision of relief which has reached
all communities included in the SIA. 171 While the presence of civil society organizations
and private sector foundations in particular areas have brought in significant additional
resources 172 a set of basic interventions implemented under the coordination of local
governments were as follows: 173
• In kind assistance and relief goods – Food assistance was provided in
evacuation centers by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS)
and in coordination with the TAO with the involvement of communities. In addition, both
food and non-food items were also distributed to households outside of evacuation centers
in the form of “emergency survival bags.” While the distribution was coordinated by the
Ministry of Interior through the Governors’ Office and the DPM, a number of private donors
funded contributed with additional resources. 174
169 With complaints also reported regarding the quality of farming inputs provided such as rice seeds.
170 As outlined above no negative coping strategies were observed in the targeted areas. However, there were isolated
references by participants in focus group discussions in Nakhon Sawan over the potential for drug use and crime to
increase in the area in the coming months if sources of income for the urban poor continue to decline. These respondents
referred to the recent financial crisis as a recent example of how hardships experienced in their communities led to
increased rates of crime. Internal stresses (lack of social cohesion in urban areas) where in these case exacerbated by
external stresses (brought on by the financial crisis).
171 It is important to note that the SIA did not collect data on the conditions in evacuation centers.
172 For example, agribusiness companies such as CP and Betago supported the provision of food through their networks
of local producers and a number of local foundations were involved in the distribution of food and non-food items. In addition
in the three Provinces included in the SIA Mae Fah Luang Foundation provided support in the form of agricultural
inputs and World Vision supported the implementation of a needs assessment in affected areas.
173 Additional support was provided to deal with sanitation and transport needs, which will be reflected in the respective
sector reports.
174 “Emergency Survival Bags” usually include rice, canned tuna, sugar and cooking as well as toiletries (including sanitary
napkins). There was no sex or age differentiation in the content of these kits.
226 THAI FLOOD 2011 RAPID ASSESSMENT FOR RESILIENT RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION PLANNING