Plan Thailand's Caroline Borchard makes a friend.

25 October: Plan Thailand travelled by boat, truck and fire engine to deliver 900 relief kits to flood-affected families in Bangpa-in district, Ayuttaya province, on 22 October. 

“Our journey today is going to be rough because the water level is going to be about 1 metre and we have the trucks to transport these relief kits to the area,” said Sunan Samrianrum, Plan Thailand’s acting country director, before the trip.

Spirits were high among the 20 or so staff and volunteers as the 60-kilometre journey began. Yet while the roads around central Bangkok were bone dry, it wasn’t long before the trucks were sloshing through water. In Rangsit, just north of Bangkok, the roads were badly flooded and scores of cars had been abandoned.

On the road

As the trucks pushed through Pathum Thani province to Ayutthaya, the extent of the flooding became increasingly visible. Roads had turned into glistening rivers; streets were like canals. Some locals waded waist-deep through stagnant water while others had been resourceful with their engineering, fashioning boats out of old oil drums or huge tyre inner tubes.

Longtail boats were a common sight and there were even a couple of jet-skis zipping up the roads, but what was most striking was the sheer volume of water in all directions that was showing no signs of moving anywhere.

For Plan Thailand though the day was all about delivering much-needed relief supplies to children and their families as part of Plan’s commitment to spend $150,000 to support those who have been affected by the floods. Items being delivered included diapers, baby food, toys and books.

But it nearly wasn’t to be as the truck containing Plan’s team coughed and spluttered until it could go no farther up the road/waterway, at which point about half of those on board had to hop into a boat to lighten the load. Despite bumping into lampposts and bushes on the way, everyone in the boat made it to dry ground to be reunited with the supply truck for the onward journey to the distribution point.

Express delivery

On a scorching afternoon families queued to receive coupons to be exchanged for relief kits. Governor of Ayutthaya Witthaya Phewphong was on hand to meet everyone and slowly but surely, the relief kits made it to members of the community.

Besides the main handout zone, Plan made a few stops around the area to people who had difficulty leaving their homes. Local government assisted with the drop-offs, even arranging for a fire truck to transport four of the team to a small commune where new friends were instantly made.

As the afternoon wore on the bulk of the relief kits were handed out, with only a few left over to be distributed by local authorities. 

Thailand’s worst floods for decades have affected 2,400,000 people, 700,000 of them children. Floods have impacted the lives of millions across Asia this year, including in Cambodia and Pakistan.