A flight bringing Thai nationals home from Israel yesterday was the last such flight to be chartered, according to a government spokesman. Chai Wacharonke says there will be no more chartered repatriation flights unless there are enough passengers to justify it.
However, Thais in Israel are being told they can still make their own way home and reclaim the travel costs from the Labour Ministry once back in the kingdom. Yesterday, Thais wishing to travel on the last chartered flight were told to present themselves at a hotel in Tel Aviv.
Only around 8,000 have returned to Thailand out of a total of 30,000 that were living and working in Israel and Gaza.
It’s understood the government has earmarked around 1.2 billion baht for Thai citizens who need financial assistance to repay debts or start a new business venture. The Government Savings Bank and the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives have also agreed to provide a combined 2 billion baht in long-term loans, according to the report.
Low interest loans of up to 150,000 baht will be offered with a repayment period of up to 20 years or by the borrower’s 60th birthday.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
