First shipment of Thai Rice departs Bangkok for Haiti

On 1 February 2010 at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presided over the “Thai Rice for Haiti” ceremony and witnessed the loading of the first shipment of 100 tons of Thai rice to Haiti. The ceremony was attended by high-level representatives from the government, private sector, diplomatic corps based in Thailand, and Mr. Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, Secretary to the Foreign Minister (on behalf of the Foreign Minister).

Prime Minister Abhisit expressed his condolences, on behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the people of Thailand, to the people of Haiti and handed over the rice to Mr. Kenro Oshidari, Regional Director for Asia of the World Food Programme. The World Food Programme will be responsible for  distributing the rice to the affected Haitians.

The first shipment of rice aid was executed through the cooperation between the Office of Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Thai Airways International Plc. The rice will be delivered directly to Haiti by air cargo and is scheduled to arrive at Port-au-Prince Airport of Haiti on 2 February 2010 at 07.00 hrs. (local time). The remaining 19,900 tons of rice will be delivered by sea freight later.