ReliefWeb Document Preview Thailand accepts foreign tsunami aid nine months after disaster

ReliefWeb Document Preview Thailand accepts foreign tsunami aid nine months after disaster

"Thailand accepts foreign tsunami aid nine months after disasterBangkok (dpa)

- Thailand, which initially turned down all foreign aid for the December 26 tsunami, on Monday accepted 5 million dollars in grant aid from the Japanese government and World Bank to fund community restructuring projects in the affected areas.

The grant aid, from the Japan Social Development Fund, will be funnelled by the World Bank (WB) to four implementing agents to villagers impacted by the tsunami with the Thai Finance Ministry acting as 'overseer and facilitator,' WB officials said.

The grant, signed over on Monday, was the first foreign aid Thailand has accepted from a foreign country since the disaster struck nine months ago.

'This proves very clearly that despite the efforts and good wishes of the Thai government in putting its own resources into tsunami relief, Thailand does need a lot of foreign assistance,' said Mechai Viravaidya, chairman of the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), one of the four chosen 'implementing partners'. "

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