House committee faces frustration due to delays in humanitarian assistance
Delays in Disbursing Emergency Funds for Thai-Cambodian Border Communities Under Scrutiny
The House Committee on Administration has called for a meeting to address delays and inconsistencies in the disbursement of emergency funds for border communities along the Thai-Cambodian frontier.
The meeting was prompted after the government confirmed that budget funds were available for dispute relief last Thursday. The committee, chaired by Bhumjaithai Party's Ang Thong MP Koravee Prisananantakul, pledged to follow up on the cabinet's approval of compensation for the deceased and injured. The compensation amounts are 10 million baht for each fallen soldier or government official, and 8 million baht for each civilian killed.
However, provincial governors in Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Ubon Ratchathani have been slow or uneven in distributing these funds. Koravee Prisananantakul mentioned that Ubon Ratchathani has disbursed only 55,000 baht compared to 46 million baht in Si Sa Ket and 55 million baht in Surin, indicating significant discrepancies in fund delivery.
Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated that the responsibility lies with the provincial governors to alleviate the hardship of affected communities. The Interior Ministry, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), and the Comptroller General’s Department were invited to join the discussion.
To address these issues, the committee approved an additional 100 million baht on top of the previous 100 million baht allocated to each province, plus 6.6 million baht for local administrative organizations to distribute directly to civilians.
Koravee Prisanananantakul also mentioned that the committee reviewed an additional 100 million baht for each province, bringing the total funds available to 200 million baht per province. He also insisted that the Interior Minister appear before the committee to provide an explanation for the delays and inconsistencies in the disbursement of funds.
In summary, bureaucratic hurdles and uneven provincial administration are causing delays and inconsistencies in the disbursement of emergency funds. While substantial funds have been approved and are available, their actual disbursement, especially in Ubon Ratchathani, remains limited as of early August 2025. The situation is under close scrutiny, with the House committee insisting on faster and more verifiable aid delivery.
- The delays and inconsistencies in the disbursement of emergency funds for border communities along the Thai-Cambodian frontier have become a matter of policy-and-legislation, with the House Committee on Administration focusing on resolving these issues in the realm of politics.
- The general news highlights the scrutiny of the delays in disbursing emergency funds, involving the House Committee on Administration, cabinet members, provincial governors, and other government departments, shedding light on the complexities of politics and policy-and-legislation in times of crisis.
