Coss Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 I nicked this from Tha Visa... couldn't access the original source... Flood-hit Thailand declines offer of help: US Navy WASHINGTON, October 25, 2011 (AFP) - The US Navy has withdrawn several ships sent to help with relief efforts in flood-hit Thailand after receiving "mixed" messages from the Bangkok government, a defense official said Monday. The USS George Washington aircraft carrier and other ships were deployed to the area on October 16 for potential disaster relief work as Thailand faced massive flooding from monsoon rains, said Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander John Perkins. But the US military never received a formal request from the Thai government and the three-ship aircraft carrier group along with a fourth ship, the USS Kidd, were released and left the area on Friday, said Perkins, spokesman for the US Pacific Fleet based in Hawaii. "We are ready to help but we haven't got a request," said a US defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "There were two channels (in the Thai government)," the defense official told AFP. "One was saying 'Yes' and one was saying 'No.'" The Thai capital on Monday was bracing for advancing and seemingly unstoppable floodwaters after residents in areas deemed most at threat were urged to leave. Other parts of the country have been plagued by three months of heavy monsoon rains that have killed more than 350 people in Thailand and damaged the homes and livelihoods of nine million people. On October 15, a small ten-man team of US Marines traveled to Thailand to deliver thousands of sandbags and to assess how the American military could help with relief efforts. The USS George Washington group had arrived at the port of Singapore on October 12 and four days later the carrier was steaming towards Thailand "to position itself in case their assistance was requested," Perkins said. A fourth ship, the USS Kidd, which was carrying out an exercise with Cambodian forces, also was ordered to join the carrier group near Thailand, he said. The USS George Washington is now en route to Japan for an annual joint exercise there. For humanitarian work, the United States often deploys warships, including aircraft carriers, which can operate fleets of helicopters and ferry in emergency medical teams and supplies. -- ©Copyright AFP 2011-10-25 | AFP News Sponsor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Hi, Rumor has it that the Netherlands Embassy also offered help which was turned down. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jitagawn Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Hi, Rumor has it that the Netherlands Embassy also offered help which was turned down. Sanuk! Yes and no why of course TIT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Maybe Dubai will offer help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waerth Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hRbSAMo0WnRBy1U6H3PTmbZlrbuA?docId=CNG.a9e4b16a0529fb9f02391f9eb3cdd346.301 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pom Michael Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 And what were they going to do? Sail up theChao Phraya? Or discharge 10,000 sailors in Pattaya to keep up the economy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamui Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 And what were they going to do? Sail up theChao Phraya? Or discharge 10,000 sailors in Pattaya to keep up the economy? Helicopters seem to be extremely helpful when evacuating severely ill and/or old people or in case of real emergencies - especially when you hear that there are not enough boats in areas like Ayutthaya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limbo Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Apparently the US Ambassador stated that the boats are in port and are helping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 They are also extremely useful for delivery emergency supplies to inaccessible areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coss Posted October 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 And showing people how not to sit under tents, in the heat, drink water and wait, but to get up and actually do something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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