Urgent Flood Relief for Vulnerable Families in Northern Thailand
In the past week, severe flooding has devastated communities in northern Thailand, leaving many families and students in our programs at heightened risk of trafficking and exploitation. These families, already facing significant challenges, now find themselves without safe shelter, adequate food, and under immense financial strain as they attempt to recover.
We urgently need to raise $75,000 to provide critical emergency relief—delivering essential supplies and protection to those most vulnerable.
Your support can make a life-changing difference in keeping these children safe and ensuring they have the resources to rebuild their lives and remain protected from traffickers during this critical time. Every dollar counts and brings us closer to our goal.
Live Updates
Updated situation, children and families, migrant community and network oraganizations
New and very significant flooding in Wiang Pa Pao, Mae Suay and Mae Lao districts happened overnight as heavy storms caused the Mae Lao river to flood. The Freedom Story and community volunteers will begin doing relief efforts in these districts which have not been previously impacted by the flooding from September 11.
On September 24th, volunteers went to Mae Sai, in the San Sai Mai and San Ma areas, with the assistant village headman, village health volunteers, and our migrant worker volunteers taking us to the areas where the migrant workers have not yet received much relief from other agencies. There are also two more schools that have asked for help, another four families, and another 90 migrant families in Mae Sai. We have prepared 100 relief bags to continue to distribute as this new flooding impacts new areas. We are so thankful for every volunteer, donation, and for everyone who is supporting the volunteers by sending messages of encouragement; it is so encouraging as we plan next steps for the new areas that have flooded.
Over the weekend, volunteers have been busy with providing support and resources across Thailand. Donated clothes were distributed to the disaster victims at the Chiang Rai Provincial Administrative Organization’s government center. The donated relief bags containing rice, other dry goods, and kitchen supplies, were donated to the scholarship students of The Freedom Story who were affected by the flood. With pending rains to come over the next week and a half, these supplies will be incredibly useful to those already impacted by the flooding. TFS volunteers also sent dry goods bags and donated clothes to many people in Burma, as well as distributed relief bags to migrant workers in the Mae Sai district. On Saturday, relief bags and cleaning supplies were taken to a village in the Wiang Kean district.
The community is coming together in incredible ways to ensure that all people are provided for and protected. During natural disasters, the risk of trafficking increases. An already vulnerable community has lost their homes and crops, and it is necessary to provide support to protect all people impacted by the flooding.
This week, the focus is on recovery efforts from the flooding, with the aim to complete the work by the end of the week. The primary focus is on distributing donations, divided into two main categories:
Recovery Phase:
This includes cleaning supplies to help people restore their homes and local community businesses and organizations.
Relief Phase:
This includes dry consumables (rice) and second-hand clothing donated by community members.
On September 16, 2024, 80 cleaning supply kits were distributed. Efforts are ongoing to distribute cleaning supplies in coordination with the recovery phase, with The Freedom Story’s team packing and delivering supplies to the affected communities.
Through the consistent donations and efforts to support the families of Thailand, packages containing much needed supplies (rice, pots, canned fish, cooking oil, and other kitchen/personal goods) have been packaged and aimed to be distributed in Wiang Kaen, Mae Fah Luang, Chiang Khong, Doi Hang, and to scholarship students with TFS.
P.S. We would love to hear from you. This is the worst flooding that Chiang Rai has seen in our lifetime. Of those who were not flooded, many are without running water and/or electricity. Our team is working so hard, and they are tired. Encouragement goes a long way. We see every donation that comes in, and it has allowed our team to mobilize with instant relief. If you would also like to share a video or note with the team, please send it my way and I will gladly pass it along.
Update on the Flood:
Summary of the distribution of relief packages on the 12th: A total of 850 packages were distributed in two areas within the city and Mae Sai. Efforts are ongoing to ensure that all residents are able to access food and resources.
Coordination is currently underway with the headmen of Doi Hang and Nam Lat Soi 5, who have requested help since people in there have not eaten in three days, and boats cannot access the area for rescue.
Today, the focus will be on distributing aid in Muang District. It is currently impossible to provide assistance to Rim Kok Subdistrict, villages 1 and 2, due to fast-flowing water, which even the rescue teams cannot navigate.
Update on Resources:
Three different teams are going to Doi Hang, Nam Lat, and Rim Kok to distribute donated goods and prepared food. If food can be prepared quickly, may be able to do outreach in a fourth location.
Due to a shortage of dry food in Chiang Rai city, it is necessary to purchase supplies from nearby districts such as Phan.
Moving forward, the relief packages may need to shift toward more dry food items. Items needed include: dry food, cleaning supplies, soap, sanitary pads, diapers, toothbrushes, mosquito repellent, and lighters.
Update on the Situation:
The water level near Wat Rong Suea Ten has risen to about chest level. Some people are still stuck in their homes, and some houses have pets that are also stranded inside.
The HRP team is coordinating with four volunteer teams to manage donation efforts, but since the flooding is spreading, the donation drop-off points keep changing. They are using a six-wheeled truck to transport donations.
The donations from HRP will be distributed to the Muang District, and another batch will be taken to [Name Redacted] School, where 235 children are currently stranded.
Another drop-off point is Mae Sai District, where they are coordinating the rental of a six-wheeled truck to deliver supplies.
Update Children and Families:
Children in the Mae Sai zone are stable and staying in the city, away from their homes. Efforts are being made to evacuate them from dormitories to a safer location. If that place becomes full, [Name Redacted] will let them stay at her home. The children in the city area remain safe.
Children in Baan Song Pheenong are stranded and staying in a community shelter.
In Mae Fah Luang, a landslide has buried a house, but the family of [Name Redacted] is safe.
[Name Redacted] has relocated to stay with her mother in the Overbrook Hospital area.
[Name Redacted] advises everyone to leave belongings behind and prioritize evacuating safely.
The full assessment of what kind of help each family needs will only be possible once the floodwaters recede.
Migrant Community Update:
No reports have been received of any direct impact on our labor community in the city, but the water levels are rising.
In Mae Sai, no aid has been delivered yet due to the remote location and language barriers. Some people are still stranded in their homes, and communication is difficult because of power outages. However, it’s been reported that some have evacuated to local temples.
Network Organizations Update:
Around 20 people from the network have evacuated from their homes, and their situation is currently being monitored.
