During May 2005 we have been observing the situation and planning the best target for our next charity trip. The situation in Khao Lak area is a bit more complicated now than before and we didn’t want to rush too much by giving the funds to someone who maybe doesn’t need it so much anymore. We have been trying to find the people who would need it the most.
REFUGEE CAMPS (Pru Tiew, Chong Fa, Bang Sak)
The situation in the camps has changed since the last months. Some people have moved out of the camps but we couldn’t really get a clear answer to where exactly. To some people the Thai government has been building houses when actually looking at them by local standards they look very nice indeed.
Some lucky ones have already been able to move into these new little block houses. However, there was still a lot of people at the camps as well and they still have to live in these aluminum or plywood temporary shelters. Some had problems with rain coming in since the off season weather has arrived to Khao Lak and rain showers are common at times in the area.
Everyone seemed to have the basic things like food, cookers, fans, beds and other things. Some had even been able to save a bit of money and were planning to open some little business selling fruits, noodles or something similar.
In addition, many local and international aid agencies had been in the camps several times giving basic supplies and some money as well to the families.
It was very hard to find out who was actually in an urgent need of something. Some people were going to move to their new house soon, some had even 2 cookers or 3 fans, but some had nothing much. Answers from the camp refugees were a bit confusing and seemed that nobody really knew (or didn’t want to say) if things were better now than month or two before.
KHAO LAK HOLIDAY DESTINATION
We spent some time in the actual Khao Lak area since it seemed that many of the locals had returned that had to live in the camps or somewhere else just after the tsunami. The center of Khao Lak is now in very good shape and only Bang Niang area (3km north from Khao Lak) still has a lot of work to be done. There are a few new houses being built there now and it gives a ray of hope for the others in the Bang Niang beach area,
We interviewed many local people and also met lot of old friends that we hadn’t seen since the tsunami. We got a lot of useful information from the locals, but also some quite surprising negative feedback about the tsunami volunteers. There have been many Tsunami volunteers and many have done a fantastic job so the negative part of this report on them does not reflect on all the volunteers working to help the locals.
Here is a short story about the comments from the Khao Lak locals:
· People are returning to Khao Lak and everyone is hoping that the tourism would revive already next high season (October 2005)
· Hotels are being built at a rapid pace and some are already open for the coming season
· Restaurants and other businesses are being finalized and everyone has a good team spirit to get Khao Lak back on the tourism map
· There are lots of American and English tsunami volunteers as well as other countries a lot of them are actually having a long holiday than actually doing anything
· Some of the foreign volunteers go and get their daily meals from the refugee camps and they are asked to pay a bit for the meals but only a few agree to do that
· Some of the volunteers are not allowed to go into some restaurants anymore in Khao Lak because they just get drunk there every night and make a lot of noise until early hours
· Many locals are angry at the volunteers since they are pushing the Christian religion too much to the local Buddhist people
· Some even said that some American tsunami volunteers have told the kids in the schools that they survived the tsunami only because Jesus saved them and one local had been told that his relatives died in the tsunami because they didn’t believe in Jesus and bible
· Tsunami volunteers say they want special cheap prices from shops and restaurants because they are there to help and doing important work
· Some local schools are in a bad situation and they need many things there
· Some of the families can not afford to buy study materials for their children
· Some students at local Khuk Khak school (nearest to Khao Lak) students doesn’t even have shoes on their feet
CONCLUSION
After these even a bit shocking comments we decided that our aid work next phase would target to the local school and the children there. We will go at the beginning of June to give out the remaining funds to the Khuk Khak school students.
We also got a sad feeling that there was clearly a bit of tension in Khao Lak between the locals and foreign tsunami volunteers. Certainly many (hopefully most) volunteers are doing important work there but (as always) it is sad that a couple idiots spoil the reputation of many. This raises a question that who is actually controlling and guiding these volunteers at Khao Lak?
The locals couldn’t really tell us that how some of the volunteers have been helping them lately. In addition, the pushing of the Christian religion and the bible seemed to make some locals very angry. Actually we also thought it was very odd?
The aid work phase 6/2 >>