Norwegian Peoples Aid “Norsk Folkehjelp” in Thailand is running a public campaign in Pattaya in the coming weekend 22/23rd October to raise funds to be able to clear more mines in Thailand. The campaign in Pattaya is part of a nation wide campaign back in Norway called Telethon organized by Norwegian Peoples Aid “Norsk Folkehjelp” and the Norwegian national TV corporation NRK. The official website for the NRK Telethon is http://www.blimed.no/
Norwegian organisation has been working in Thailand for the past 2 years with the Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC) and has been operational in Surin province since last May.
Unfortunately only this last weekend one of the NPA staff was injured by a landmine in Surin showing how dangerous the work can be and how much there is a need to clear the landmines to ensure security for the Thai communities that are affected.
Where can you join?
The Norwegian Seaman’s Church in Pattaya will be hosting an event on Saturday 22nd where NPA staff will have a display, be available to discuss our activities and also there will be a chance to try on the equipment and ‘find mines’ in a safe environment.
On the evening of the 23rd a number of Norwegian bars and restaurants will be bringing to the Norwegian community a live feed of the NRK Telethon. The main focus will be at Kares Party Bar, Soi 2 Pattaya: http://www.kaarethai.com/
NPA staff will be present again to discuss our activities, there will be a slide show as well as the NRK Telethon feed.
This event only happens every 5 years and it is a unique opportunity for the Norwegians living in Thailand and the other Scandinavians, to be part of a special event and assist in removing the threat of landmines and saving lives.
Why Thailand?
Thailand is one of the ‘forgotten victims’ of the legacy of the use of landmines in the early 1970’s. Thousands of landmines were laid by both sides when the Khmer Rouge were driven over into Thai territory, and even though the hostilities finished over 35 years ago the landmines still remain and the statistics of victims still do not stop.
Thailand signed up to the Anti-Personnel Landmine Treaty in 1999. NPA provides necessary additional resources to the Thai military Humanitarian Demining Units
NPA started activities in Thailand since 2000, carrying out the national Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) of Thailand. NPA resumed support to TMAC in 2008, mainly providing technical advice on TMAC’s capacities in strategic planning, on information management and introducing the concept of land release. In 2011 NPA partnered with the Thailand Civilian Deminers Association (TDA).
The programme also aims at regional exchange of best-practices and information on the opportunities to join the cluster munitions convention; so that landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) pose no obvious risk to people and are no longer an obstacle to development in Thailand.
How you can help!
First of all, money is needed. You can help buy a detector or fund a mine clearing staff for a year.
Some examples of the costs in Thailand are:
Detector: THB 98,000
Protective Mask: THB 11,000
Protective Vest: THB 17,000
Deminer (1 month): THB 20,000 (including
insurances, a basic subsistence)
Deminer (1 Year): THB 240,000
Water for the team (1 month): THB 8,00
If you consider giving your support, please contact Norwegian Peoples Aid’s Programme Manager Mr. Lee Moroney directly on [email protected] or on his mobile phone +66(0)81.8866.914. He also has a hotmail: [email protected] and a skype name: leemoroney
Right now would be a good time…
