Thailand to aid Haiti via Mexico

BANGKOK, 18 January 2010 (NNT) – Thailand will provide additional aids to the Caribbean country of Haiti via Mexico, in order to help survivors suffering from hunger and in need of assistance after the 7.0 magnitude quake rocked the country.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is scheduled to meet with charge d’affairs of Mexico to Thailand to discuss assistance to Haiti. He said he had talked to the Mexican authorities during the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FELAC) meeting in Japan from 16 to 17 January 2010 about this issue since Mexico is closest to Haiti for Thailand to send assistance.

According to the minister, Mexico has sent ambulance boats, five aircrafts, more than 200 rescuers, and other consumer goods. Mexico is now working on evaluating additional assistance to Haiti.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand is now coordinating with the private sector and people in Thailand to send financial donation to Haiti. Mr Kasit then confirmed that Thailand would try its best to aid Haiti while the Thai government would coordinate with the UN for systematic assistance.

The cabinet on Tuesday will mull over financial assistance to Haiti since the Foreign Ministry could not approve any assistance of more than 30,000 USD on its own.