Tens of thousands of Thai men and women are on the street due to the corona crisis. Hotels are close, as are many restaurants and shops. With the average low wages, there is hardly any savings and it is impossible to live on the meager benefits.
All over the country, foreigners try to alleviate the worst needs with food campaigns, sometimes by providing meals, sometimes by handing out food packages. The poverty is almost always harrowing, as evidenced by the actions in Hua Hin and Cha Am.
Less than 10 kilometers outside of Hua Hin: meager huts on almost impassable sandy paths. Waiting men and women, with children who do not yet know about the catastrophe. Some corrugated iron and shaky walls, that is often the only possession. The bedrooms are no more than a dirty mattress on the floor in a corner, screened off with a curtain.
Lionsclub IJsselmonde and the Dutch Association Hua Hin & Cha Am want to alleviate the worst need. But handing out haphazardly leads to chaos and crowding and we should not have that in this day and age.
So far, two campaigns have been carried out, for a total of almost 150 families. In advance, contact is made with the pujai track of a district off the beaten track. He knows exactly which residents need help the most. He makes a list and informs those involved.
The actions are running smoothly. Most people are waiting nicely upon arrival. Their temperature is checked and the hands are provided with gel. When everyone is present, the names are called and the Thai receive their package. This includes five kilograms of rice, cooking oil, fish sauce, noodles, canned fish, eggs, etc. Mothers with children receive powdered milk and the children themselves some candy. It is incredible how orderly and smoothly the distribution goes, although it is often sad to see how gratefully shriveled and crooked females receive the gifts.
The lockdown in Thailand may be slowly being relaxed, but it will be many months before the hotels, restaurants and shops can welcome guests again. And therefore need staff again. Tourism fell by 99 percent in the month of April. Due to a lack of guests, the hotels do not open and thousands of Thai people remain unemployed. Other sectors will also be added. Several schools say that parents can no longer cough up the costs of education for their children. Schools are firing teachers and those who remain are sometimes forced to lose half their salary. In the coming weeks, the Lions Club and NVTHC can distribute more than 600 food packages. Then the box is empty there too.
About this blogger
- Almost 20 years ago, journalist Hans Bos moved to Bangkok. Almost from the beginning, he was involved in the birth of Thailandblog. As a journalist, he worked for Limburg newspapers and for the travel trade journals of what was once called Elsevier. Hans (76) has lived in Hua Hin for 14 years, with his wife Raysiya and daughter Lizzy. He was secretary and vice-chairman of the Dutch association in Hua Hin and Cha Am for about nine years.
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Is there a Dutch bank number to make a financial contribution for these people in Hua Hin? I have been there myself a number of times, and have seen how these people live. That is why I would like to contribute to these people.
Dutch account:
Stichting Hulpfonds Lionsclub IJsselmonde.
ABN AMRO : NL13 ABNA 0539 9151 30
Description: Thailand food package destination grant
No doubt a wonderful gesture, but I just received a video that a pellet with beer was driven into a supermarket and it was empty within one minute!!!
Where does that money come from???
Continue with this fantastic promotion!!
I do too.
Rob, there are still Thai people who have a job, for example in the government. They just get paid. The people who buy one or more cases of beer are certainly not the same as the poor and often unemployed Thai who are very happy with a little help.
I also know people here in the Netherlands who abuse the footstool. That's why I like to support private help, directly to the people who need it.
With this I have transferred 100 euros. Good luck helping. Regards Paul.
Kudos to Iris Weiss in Hua Hin who does a fantastic job!!!!!
These actions are fantastic and hopefully it will remain possible for a long time, also financially.
But there's one more thing I need to get off my chest.
We hear nothing about a government contingency plan to help the population with food aid
Yes, I know 5000 baht but that is a drop in the ocean.
I am talking about immediate adequate help in the places where it is needed.
Why don't they deploy their huge army with their cooks, army supplies and field kitchens.
These could work wonders.
It is always said that one of the worst things for the Thai is losing face.
That certainly doesn't count now with this Covid 19 disaster.
Now the population is left to feed those 'dirty farangs'.
Of course it is sad to see so many poor people. I have the poor in my condo building and in the street where I live as much as possible.
What is actually sadder is that - if this misery is all a bit more manageable - the government and companies are very likely not thinking about paying their employees better or taking more social benefits, under the guise: we don't have that money ( more).
One of the consequences could be that the Chinese take over ailing companies and pay their employees (Thai and Chinese) two to three times as much as they currently receive. This is happening now in Cambodia. The streetscape and the economic structure of a city or region will therefore change radically. I doubt whether you should be so happy with this Chineseization in the medium and long term.
Chris, why do you think Chinese companies will pay higher wages than their Thai competitor.
Don't the Chinese come to Thailand or Cambodia just like the Japanese and Korean companies in the past because of the low wage costs, lower environmental rules and fewer or no rules at all regarding working conditions?
They don't come to Thailand for the benefit of the local population.
Jan Beute.
hello Jan,
I think that's because they actually apply that strategy everywhere. The Chinese are long-term thinkers (and doers) and not out for short-term gain. I can think of a few reasons why they do that:
1. removing or buying away the better personnel from the competitor;
2. building or strengthening a good image among the population.
One of the major drawbacks is that many potential local employees cannot meet the demands of the demanding Chinese. That's why so many Chinese work.
In order to benefit from the Chineseization, the level of education of the Thais really has to go up. And very quickly.
It would be a good thing if those holidaymakers in expensive resorts and hotels and winter visitors and many others who daily seek refuge on the golf courses, swimming pools and beer bars or the like.
Once knew or saw the living and living conditions of the chambermaid, the bartender, the cleaning lady and other staff.
Only then can you say I've seen the real Thailand.
In any case, a nice humane action organized by this group of Dutch people.
But it is distressing to see this, I see many of these relief actions on TV every day, usually organized by wealthy Thais.
Jan Beute.
Those vacationers in expensive resorts, of which I am 1, do keep the chambermaid and the girl in the barbershop going. Been in Thailand for 30 years and know the other side, more than well, by the way, I also come across a lot of Hai in expensive resorts