The United States government is providing US$5 million (167.7 million baht) in assistance to Thailand and another $50 million to international and non-governmental organisation partners to support pandemic response efforts that will help ease the strain on the country's health system.
"I am proud to announce the US government is providing $55 million in assistance, the vast majority of which is going toward humanitarian response efforts. We are also providing assistance to support the pandemic response that will help alleviate the strain on Thailand's health systems," US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at the MedPark Hospital Vaccination Centre in Bangkok yesterday.
This includes $5 million in Covid-19 assistance, which will provide support to healthcare workers administering vaccines and strengthen the Thai health system's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to Covid-19, she said.
The $50 million in humanitarian aid will flow directly through international and non-governmental organisation partners to provide emergency food assistance, lifesaving protection, shelter, essential health care, water, sanitation, and hygiene services to vulnerable people from Myanmar, including more than 700,000 refugees and internally displaced people.
These resources will help ensure Thailand, NGOs, and international organisations can both respond to the Covid crisis and meet the needs of vulnerable people, particularly in the Thai border area, she said.
Ms Greenfield said she was in Thailand yesterday as US President Joe Biden's representative to reaffirm the US commitment to the Thai people during this unprecedented global health crisis. She said she was grateful to have the opportunity to see how Thailand was working to vaccinate and protect people with Pfizer vaccines recently provided by the US.
"President Biden has committed America to providing vaccines to the world. He understands that no one is safe until everyone is safe," she said.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Monday against travel to several countries, including Thailand.