Bangkok has the highest number of complaints regarding violence against children and women, says the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
The Human Security Emergency Management Centre (HuSEC) has received 2,195 complaints since it opened on Nov 1, says Social Development and Human Security Minister Varawut Silpa-archa.
Most calls were about services advice and the welfare for elderly people, newborns and people with disabilities, he said. ''However, the most concerning is violence against women, children, senior citizens and people with disabilities," said Mr Varawut.
From Nov 1-5, the HuSEC received reports of domestic violence 13 times on average a day; 60% of the attacks were by family members. The biggest number of complaints came from Bangkok with 26 cases a day. HuSEC has deployed a mobile unit to work with a multi-disciplinary team to provide assistance and protect victims of domestic violence in Bangkok and the provinces.
Mr Varawut referred to a 3-year-old child who was assaulted by his mother and stepfather in Pathum Thani, saying Kanchana Silpa-archa, an adviser to the ministry's strategy working group, had recently visited the victim at Thammasat University Hospital. The child's condition has improved since the incident, he said.
Asked what the government can do to help keep people safe, Mr Varawut said the ministry plans to provide a living allowance to senior citizens, people with disabilities and those caring for newborn babies, and increase the food allowance to children who are under custody of the ministry from Dec 1.
State ministries are also trying to reduce people's daily expenses, including water and electricity bills, as well as the cost of fuel.
Regarding Thai returnees from Israel, Mr Varawut said HuSEC has provided advice to around 8,348 Thai returnees, 300 of whom were helped to return to their home provinces.