Emergency relief efforts get underway to help victims of Thailand floods

Employees at GKN Driveline Rayong and GTM in Thailand have delivered hundreds of emergency food sacks to people suffering the effects of sustained flooding in central and northern parts of the country. 

More than 32 people have died as a result of the flooding which has struck intermittently since August and has affected a total of 43 provinces in the country. Another 138,000 people have fallen ill mostly from waterborne diseases, and an estimated 648,000 acres of rice fields and farmland destroyed. 

The GKN Driveline Rayong initiative was launched to help families affected by the flooding along the Chaphraya and Ping rivers and who were in desperate need of food and safe drinking water.

The objective of the initiative was to collect money and food donations to help the flood victims. More than 150 Krasob Namjai (‘sympathy sacks’) were assembled containing essential food and water supplies donated by employees and their families. Volunteers from the plant then delivered the emergency provisions to drop-off points in the Chainart and Nakornsawan provinces for distribution to the local people.

In addition to the food donations, a total of 30,000 baht (£450) was used to purchase rice, drinking water, medicine and other necessities. Another donation of 4,500 baht (£60) was given to the Chai Pathana Foundation to help finance its ongoing relief efforts.