The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has set up fences along some abandoned buildings near Satriwithaya School after photos of homeless people living on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue that went viral sparked concerns over the safety of students.
BMA spokesman Ekwaranyu Amrapan on Sunday said Phra Nakhon District Office inspectors have patrolled the avenue and set up fences along some abandoned buildings near the school, including the Suksapan store, a state stationery store which closed in February 2019, to prevent homeless people from trespassing.
The district office sent street cleaners on Saturday to collect rubbish and clear the area to ensure sanitation, he said.
Many parents had raised concerns about their children's safety as students must walk past homeless people to go to a bus stop or wait for their parents to pick them up from school, he said.
Some people came to the spot at night to offer food to the homeless, he said, although the BMA had prepared two locations nearby for those who want to donate food.
One location is under the Phra Pinklao Bridge, which provides food to 200 homeless individuals per day, and the other is in Sake Alley on Assadang Road, where food is available for 150 homeless people per day, he said.
The BMA is urging people who want to donate food to do so via forms.gle/2hZzssfChcJtrALK9 to ensure orderliness, he said.
Recently, a netizen posted photos of homeless people on ramps, stairs and raised platforms in front of the abandoned buildings on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, and they went viral on social media.
A message saying "Ratchadamnoen Avenue is a historical place with a beautiful landscape but it has deteriorated due to a gathering of homeless people" was attached to the photos.
Some homeless people also drink alcohol while others use narcotics and were aggressive to passersby, the netizen said, adding pedestrians do not feel safe being near them.
The netizen also noticed the Satriwithaya students and felt concerned about their safety.
The netizen then urged people not to donate food to homeless people in the area and take photos for added clout.