Thai Red Cross calls for donations, pledges 2 million baht to earthquake relief effort

The Thai Red Cross is pledging 2 million baht for relief efforts following the devastating earthquake that struck Türkey and northern Syria on Monday. The death toll from the 7.8-magnitude quake currently stands at 21,000, with millions more affected in both countries. A Thai woman is understood to be among the dead and has been reported to the Thai Foreign Ministry.

Dr Amnat Barlee from the TRC’s Relief and Community Health Bureau has called on the public to help by donating for the red crescent societies in both Turkey (or Türkiye) and Syria. The societies belong to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

According to a Nation Thailand report, members of the public can donate to the Thai Red Cross Society via its Siam Commercial Bank account: 045-3-04637-0.

Representatives of the Thai Red Cross, including Amnat, have met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss sending assistance to Turkey and Syria. Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has joined PM Prayut Chan-o-cha in sending his condolences, while the Thai embassy in Ankara is sending a 20-member urban search and rescue team to the disaster zone.

The World Health Organisation has estimated that the final death toll could reach 20,000, but some experts predict that the number could be much higher, possibly reaching over 100,000.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand