Thailand is mobilising soldiers, doctors, planes and supplies while readying fundraisers to aid victims of the Nepal earthquake, which by Monday afternoon had killed more than 4,000 people.
The Medical Council of Thailand set up online registration for volunteers, and by Monday afternoon 350 doctors had signed up.
The council said on its website that volunteers would be put in groups based on their fields of expertise to make it easier to match skills with needs.
- UPDATE: Death toll passes 4,100
It asked volunteers to be ready to face hardship. Basic facilities, food and water are in short supply in the affected areas, so they must be prepared for uncertainties.
Police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang said police doctors and forensic officers would leave for Nepal to assist in victim identification.
Minister ML Panadda Diskul of the Prime Minister's Office said the government was accepting donations through its Krung Thai Bank account No. 067-0-10330-6 to help victims.
He warned donors to use the account number only to avoid scams.
Four Thai tourists arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport from Nepal Sunday night. They were among 11 Thais scheduled to fly back Saturday, but the earthquake delayed some flights. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
ML Panadda also said that the Thai Red Cross and the Public Health Ministry would also send medical personnel and the Commerce Ministry would donate rice in addition to the Thai government's initial donation of US$200,000 to Nepal.
Only one person of local heritage was killed, Thai-American Marisa Girawong, 29. She died in an avalanche at the Mt Everest base camp.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said that the armed forces were sending military doctors and aircraft to Nepal and the army would accept donations through its Channel 5 station.
Col Sirichan Ngathong, deputy army spokesman, said the army would also send medical personnel and supplies, deploy a drinking-water production unit and put on standby a group of military engineers to repair public utilities and homes.
On Tuesday night, the government plans to run a TV programme to solicit donations on Channel 5.
Air force spokesman Monthol Satchukorn said personnel would leave Don Mueang airport Tuesday morning for the five-hour flight to Kathmandu. They will remain there for a week.
The transport carrier would return to Bangkok immediately and be placed on standby.
Sek Wannamethee, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said 100 Thais were in Nepal with 60 of them in Kathmandu. Those who lived in Nepal did not intend to return to Thailand while Thai tourists and conference participants did, he said.
He also said that six medical students from Srinakharinwirot University who were trekking in Nepal, had reached the town of Pokhara, about 400 kilometres from Kathmandu, and their return flight was being arranged.
Global effort
Thailand is among dozens of countries and organisations that by Monday had announced relief efforts for Nepal.
Members of a rescue team from Japan transit at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport en route to Kathmandu, Nepal, to assist with the earthquake relief effort Monday. (AP photo)
The Asian Development Bank pledged up to $200 million in support to Nepal for the first phase of rehabilitation, likely to be a combination of grants and loans.
Neighbouring India, which shares close cultural and political ties, had so far dispatched 400 tonnes of relief materials and basic supplies, according to the Indian embassy in Kathmandu.
It also sent 1,000 trained personnel and deployed two dozen aircraft and choppers, according to media reports.
Far-off countries like Australia and Canada as well as tiny Bhutan also promised aid and rescue teams for Nepal, one of the world's poorest countries.
Volunteers with International Search and Rescue Germany board a Lufthansa Airbus A380 for a flight to New Delhi, India at the airport in Frankfurt Sunday. From India they will go on further to Nepal in order to begin assisting in relief efforts for the earthquake victims. (EPA photo)
The European Commission announced that it would provide €3 million ($3.25 million) in emergency aid, in addition to the money offered by EU member states.
Norway has promised $4 million in the relief and rescue efforts. A Swedish rescue team with 76 members and 12 sniffer dogs was slated to arrive in Nepal on Tuesday.
China, Singapore South Korea and Japan had also sent in teams to help with the rescue, and promised aid packages.
Pakistan had so far sent four aircraft for rescue and relief assistance, including a 30-bed mobile hospital, according to Radio Pakistan.
The US government also pledged support of $1 million and sent a disaster rescue team to the area.
Medecins Sans Frontieres was sending 3,000 kits of non-food items and medical kits. Google announced $1 million dollars for the rescue fund.