A field in Bang Pla Ma, Thailand's Suphanburi province (Photo: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - Thailandis struggling with an increasingly severe drought as the second-largest economyin Southeast Asia also continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Up to 6,255 communes in 24 provinces across the country were reported to be affected by drought at an online meetinghosted by the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) on April 13, with many facing seriouswater shortages. Dams and reservoirs are 49 percent full but only 26 percent oftheir water is usable.
Deputy Prime Minister PrawitWongsuwon was cited by local media as telling the meeting that the ONWR and relatedagencies must ensure clean water security for every household amid the prolongeddrought, in support of the Government’s call for people to remain at home in orderto curb the spread of COVID-19.
With drought predicted untilJuly, the Deputy PM ordered water wells be drilled to provide water for drought-affectedcommunities, while ensuring water resources for businesses and projects along the Eastern Economic Corridor.
The Royal IrrigationDepartment has identified and provided 15.3 billion cubic meters of water for drought-affectedareas, fulfilling 87 percent of the target set in its Drought ManagementPlan 2019-2020.
Thailand reported 34 more COVID-19 cases andone more fatality on April 14, bringing its total number of infections to 2,613,with fatalities rising to 41.
The number of confirmed new caseswas higher than the 28 recorded on April 13 but substantially lower than the 111reported on April 8. The country announced its highest daily number of infectionson March 22, of 188.
Seven million workers in Thailand have been made redundantto date. The figure may reach 10 million in the time to come if the pandemic continues,according to Kalin Sarasin, Chairman ofthe Thai Chamber of Commerce./.
VNA
