The first batch of allocation of government funds of 150 million (3.6 million US dollars) will reach the hands of tsunamis victims in Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop has said.
A total of 5.2 billion baht (124 million US dollars) from the central fund has been allocated to assist the victims through six state agencies, Suwat was quoted by The Nation newspaper as saying on Friday.
The Royal Fishery Department will give out 50 million baht (1.2million US dollars) to some 27,000 fishermen in the tsunami-battered region. The Disaster Prevention Department will distribute 60 million baht (1.4 million US dollars) to the victims.
20 million baht (476,000 US dollars) will be paid to the unemployed by the Labor Department while another 20 million baht will be handed over to 40 orphans and 13,000 students.
People affected by the disaster and the injured and relatives of the dead can get a sum of compensation from the local government.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra accepted 135 million baht (3.2 million US dollars) in donation for the six southern provinces, of which 1 million baht came from his three children.
(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2005)
