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CU's Roles and Responsibilities in Solving Thailand’s Great Flood Crisis

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Published: Friday, 10 February 2017 10:48

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Summary of
CU's Roles and Responsibilities in Solving Thailand’s Great Flood Crisis
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           Roles and Responsibilities
           Chulalongkorn University is the first institution of higher education in Thailand. It was founded under the royal initiative of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) as the fundamental pillar of the Siamese Kingdom.
           Thus, when it is the time of troubles or when the public is crying out for help, all members of Chulalongkorn University are prompt to give a helping hand to solving any difficulties and answering all public needs as a way to fulfill the original intention of King Chulalongkorn in sacrificing to the society.
           With such aspiration, as the greatest flood crisis in the Thai history has arisen and led to massive sufferings of all walks of lives, Chulalongkorn University is eager to take an active action in solving all difficulties systematically and effectively through three phases:
           Phase 1: Pre-Flooding Preparations
           Phase 2: On-going Flood Management
           Phase 3: Post-Flooding Rehabilitation, Prevention and Sustainable Solution to Future Floods

            Phase 1: Pre-Flooding Preparations
               1.1 Synergized academics specialized in the flood crisis to develop a series of academic journals, Sustainable Flood Protection Concept, starting from October 2011 to give a round-up of current flooding situation in the 2011 year and to present Chulalongkorn University’s sustainable flood solutions. The journal was also submitted to the Education Minister.
               1.2 Set up the Disaster Management Center to be a central unit in charge of flood management
               1.3 Set up “Flood Relief Coordination Committee” to administer on a daily basis (including public holidays from 8.00 – 9.30 hrs) regarding flooding policies and relief measures. 
               1.4 Appointed mentoring professors to work closely with students in every activity 
               1.5 Prepared effective communication strategies during the flood crisis to promote unity and create understanding in the same direction.

           Phase 2: On-going Flood Management 
               2.1 Compiled data from Chulalongkorn University academics and volunteers visiting affected areas as well as secondary data from public and private sectors
               2.2 Analyzing data from various sources
               2.3 Identifying sources of flood crisis: 10 significant issues in which Chulalongkorn University has the potential to solving.
                 The 10 issues are as follows:
                 (1) Lack of 4 basic necessities: food
                 (2) Lack of 4 basic necessities: habitat
                 (3) Lack of commodities
                 (4) Pet problems
                 (5) Lack of feed for economic animals
                 (6) Public health problems
                 (7) Safety problems
                 (8) Transportation during flooding
                 (9) Lack of reliable information
                 (10)  Relief measures for flood victims

               2.4 Relief measures for flood victims
                 Three categories are made based on different targets.
                 (1)  Students and their families
                 (2)  Personnel and their families
                    -  Short-term measures 
                    -  Long-term measures
                 (3)  Public
                    -  Short-term measures
                    -  Medium- and long-term measures
                 2.4.1  Measures to provide aids for students and their families 
                    a. Financial supports for affected students (depending on the level of damage)
                    b. Scholarship granted for affected students in bachelor and master degree programs
                    c. Extending the registration fee payment period
                    d. Temporary shelters provided for 162 students and their families at campus dormitories   
                 2.4.2  Measures to provide aids for personnel and their families
                 Short-term measures
                    a. Emergency loans to alleviate woes at the initial stage at a maximum of 20,000 baht a month (no interests charged). Two hundred persons registered in this program. 
                    b. Flood-relief disbursement from Chulalongkorn University Savings Cooperative
                    c. Temporary shelters provided for nearly 3,000 persons at Chula Nives, Student Dormitory, Cham Churi 9 building, faculty buildings 
                    d. Survival kits and cooked food made and distributed to various distribution points at affected areas.
                    e. Bus transportation provided for evacuating people from flooded areas 
                 Long-term measures
                    a. Post-flood rehabilitation by distributing “CU rehabilitation bags” to affected families and inviting speakers to educate the public on flooding issues
                    b. Home restoration loans at a maximum of 200,000 baht (no interests charged)
                 2.4.3 Measures to provide aids for public
                    Set up “CU Spirit to Solve 10 Issues of Flood Crisis” project to solve 10 significant problems in Item 2.3

           1. Measure to solve the lack of 4 basic necessities: Food
               1.1 Set up a mobile kitchen in collaboration with the Friends in Need (of “Pa”) Volunteers Foundation under the Thai Red Cross Society to make about 50,000 boxes of cooked food a day to be distributed to flood victims at over 100 distribution points in affected areas. (over 1,309,218 boxes were made during 25th October – 30th  November 2011)
               1.2 Produced 4,000 sets of solid fuel to be used in cooking and boiling
               1.3 Made 5,773 packages of ready-to-eat rice that lasts for 3 months
               1.4 Made rice side dishes which were stored in a retorted pouch for a longer shelf life. Menu of rice side dishes are stir-fried chicken with garlic and pepper, crispy fish pounded with chili and crispy fish pounded with herbs, etc.

           2. Measure to solve the lack of 4 basic necessities: Habitat
              2.1 Set up the “Friends in Need (of “Pa”) Center for Flood Relief Coordination and Donation Distribution” in collaboration with the Friends in Need (of “Pa”) Volunteers Foundation under the Thai Red Cross Society to serve the public (over 540 persons registered). The Center applied a holistic approach that incorporates scientific, social and anthropological focuses into the care of body, mind and social-wellbeing of residents at the Center. The Center was visited by United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon on 16 November 2011, in which he praised for its effective management.

           3. Measure to solve the lack of commodities
               3.1 Provided over 40,000 survival kits in collaboration with the Friends in Need (of “Pa”) Volunteers Foundation under the Thai Red Cross Society to be distributed to affected people in Bangkok and other provinces
               3.2 Provided 32,000 sets of offerings in collaboration with Nation Multimedia Group, Siam Paragon department store and Buddhists to be presented to 32,000 monks at 2,500 temples in affected areas nationwide.

           4. Measure to solve pet problems
               4.1 The Faculty of Veterinary Science joined 5 institutions to set up the Veterinary Network for Helping of Flooded Animals which has been operating starting from October until present.
               4.2 Set up a pet day care for 500 small-sized animals (dogs, cats, rabbits and mice) at Chulalongkorn University Indoor Stadium and Man Sri Center.

           5. Measure to solve the lack of feed for economic animals
           Administered a royal initiative project of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in collaboration with the Department of Livestock Development as a pilot project to study on one-stop animal feed production, packaging and logistics.

           6. Measure to solve public health problems
               6.1 Solution to the lack of reliable information
                    6.1.1 Educated the public on flood-related issues through various media including radio, television, newspaper, journal and social networks
                    6.1.2 Produced a series of 20 video clips on “CU Spirit to Help Flood Victims” project to feature flood relief activities such as mobile kitchen operations, temporary shelter management, the making of survival kits, the building of mobile toilets and the making of lifejackets made from bottles. 
                    6.1.3 The Faculty of Communication Art and Thai-PBS set up the “Thai PBS-Chula News Center” at the Faculty.
               6.2 Solution to mental and physical sufferings
                    6.2.1 Provided a mobile public health unit consisting of doctor, pharmacist, nurse and psychologist to be on service around the clock.
                    6.2.2 Provided a mobile public health unit for flood victims at more than 15 points in affected areas.

               6.3 Solution to excretion problems during floods
                    Students and professors at the Faculty of Architecture along with volunteers built 9,400 mobile toilets.
               6.4 Solution to preventing trench foot symptom
                    The Faculty of Pharmacy’s “Num-aey Numjai” (Heartfelt) project produced 200,000 cases of Whitfield’s Ointment to cure trench foot.
               6.5 Solution to preventing mosquito bites
                    The Faculty of Pharmacy’s “Num-aey Numjai” (Heartfelt) project produced 50,000 bottles of mosquito repellents.
               6.6 Solution to lacking clean water
                    The Faculty of Science built 3,000 sets of portable water treatment machines.

               6.7 Solution to the spread of bacteria during floods
                    6.7.1 The Faculty of Science produced 2,000 bottles of anti-mould solution
                    6.7.2  The Faculty of Science produced 2,000 bottles of anti-bacteria solution
                    6.7.3  The Faculty of Science produced 2,000 bottles of silver-nano spray
                    6.7.4  The Faculty of Science produced 1,000 tubes of sanitary gel
               6.8 Solution to preventing leech bites
                    The Faculty of Science produced 1,000 knives made of copper wires for removing leeches from the skin
               6.9 Solution to dental care problems
                    The Faculty of Science produced 19,000 bottles of fluoride mouthwash

           7. Measure to solve safety problems
               7.1 Solution to preventing dangers from electrical leakage
                    The Faculty of Science and the Miracle of Life foundation produced 2,500 electrical leak detector kits.
               7.2 Solution to preventing drowning accidents during commuting
                    The Faculty of Science and the Miracle of Life foundation produced 350 lifejackets made from used plastic bottles. The innovation was praised by United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon during his official visit on 16 November 2011.

           8. Measure to solve transportation problems during flooding
               8.1 The Faculty of Architect and the Miracle of Life foundation built 100 floating rafts made from used paint buckets (capacity of 200 kilograms)
               8.2 The Junior Engineering Camp built 30 fiber boats
               8.3 Donated 118 boats to temples in Bangkok and 84 upcountry temples and local communities
               8.4 The Faculty of Engineering and the Association of Siamese Architects built 1.6-km wooden bridge near Don Muang Tollway to help locals at 20 villages nearby.

           9. Measure to solve the lack of reliable information in assessing flood risks
               9.1 The Faculty of Engineering developed Flood Risk Evaluation System for Thailand, so-called Flood REST.
               9.2 Developed Thai Crisis Planner & Reporter program to monitor the floodwater level

           10. Flood-relief measure for flood victims
               10.1 Provided volunteer students and personnel to visit affected areas and help flood victims. Activities included packing sand bags, packing survival kits, teaching session for children at over 120 temporary shelters.
               10.2 Chula Book set up 10 book corners for flood victims to read and relax at their leisure time

           Phase 3: Post-Flooding Rehabilitation, Prevention and Sustainable Solution to Future Floods
               1. Built 1.6-km wooden bridge near Don Muang Tollway (see aforementioned details) (with the Association of Siamese Architects) and joined Double A Plc. to help flood victims to return homes.
               2. Published “A Guidebook for Home Restoration After Flood Damage” with Thai-PBS and the Friends in Need (of “Pa”) Volunteers Foundation under the Thai Red Cross Society
               3. Selected 2-3 affected areas to represent Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and rural provinces so as to synergize all powers of Chulalongkorn University members (not limited in neither their physical strength nor on Big Cleaning Day) to take care of the following issues:
                    •  Environment
                    •  Landscape architecture and map
                    •  Public health/ education/ society
                    •  Career improvement
                    •  Pets and economic animals
                    •  Monitoring, warning and evacuation schemes
               4. Synergized knowledge of academics to develop a series of academic journals, Sustainable Flood Protection Concept, to be submitted to parties involved.