By Xinhua,
Bangkok : The Thai government approved an aid fund of 100,000 U.S. dollars to help relief the disaster in its neighbor Myanmar after hit by Cyclone Nargis over the weekend, Thailand’s Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Tuesday.
Thailand will consider further assistance at the cabinet meeting later Tuesday, the minister added.
Interviewed on the morning news program on Modernine TV channel, Noppadon said the ministry doubled its aid to 100,000 dollars from an initial 50,000 dollars to help cyclone-battered Myanmar.
The cabinet meeting on Tuesday will discuss providing more assistance on rehabilitation work, he said.
Noppadon said Thailand is among the countries that offered help to Myanmar early. The Thai Army on Monday sent dry food and medical supplies to cyclone-hit areas by a C-130 military transport aircraft. The Myanmar foreign ministry thanked Thailand for the humanitarian aid, according to the Thai Foreign Minister.
Some 15,000 people are believed to have died from the Cyclone Nargis which struck Myanmar Saturday.
In a condolence message sent to Myanmar authorities Tuesday, the Thai Foreign Minister said, “It is with much sadness to learn that Yangon and nearby towns were hit by the cyclone Nargis, causing loss of lives and massive damage to properties…As a close neighbor of Myanmar, the Royal Thai Government stands prepared to assist Mayanmar Government and its people in anyway wecan.”
Thai Prime Minister on Tuesday also expressed condolences to “the bereaved families of victims of this tragic natural disaster.”