End poverty together.

A world washed away

Nu Sittiruk, aged 74 is a farm labourer who lost everything by the flood in Thailand
Photo: James Boakes
by Panjit Kaewsawang
Thailand team
Program Officer - Women's Rights

I am keen to work towards strengthening women's empowerment, improving women’s network and reducing and finally eliminating women and girls traffic in Southeast Asia.  I graduated  from Thammasat University with majors in Social Work and Women’s Studies.

I have  worked with the Foundation for Women as social worker, researcher and gender analyst, and with Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institution as research assistant. My work experiences in community service, led me to adopt my life motto “helping others brings out the best in one’s character.” I enjoy helping others and believe that we, together, can make the world a better place.

Granny Nu Rittiruk, aged 74, is a farm labourer, she earns a subsistence wage in the fields around her village in Phetchabun province, north of Thailand.  Now, because of the floods, even this basic source of income can no longer be counted on.

The state pension of 500 baht per month was not enough to support Granny Nu and her 32-year son - a chronic liver disease sufferer who is unable to work - so she had to resorted to intensive labor in the fields, enduring long hours gathering crops in the hot sun.

Granny Nu's lived in wooden stilt home in a small village next to the Pak-Sak river.When I visited her, she told me of the huge flood that had struck her community days just before.

We were given four hours to evacuate our homes before the flood reached us, but it was such a short notice that barely anyone was prepared. The flood intruded quickly and swept my pots, pans, and other belongings away. I could not do anything but watch them disappear before my eyes. At that time, I couldn’t stay at home.

Granny Nu and her son sought shelter in (government provided) tents. They've been living this way for five days. Like her, about 20 families living along the Pa-Sak river had their homes flooded, forcing them to take shelter in the tents.

“We had to leave everything behind, everything we owned. Here there are very few nets to keep the mosquitoes away, and I am concerned about sanitation and safety. Waste has been dumped nearby our tents. Night after night, I try to fall asleep but my mind is filled with worries and fear. I don't know if I can return home even after the water level has decreased. Everything at home is ruined, gone with the rushing flow of the flood,” Granny Nu added.

I accompanied Granny Nu and her son as they returned to the house they had not seen since the flood. Their sadness as they saw what the flood had done to their home was heartbreaking to witness.

In October 2011, ActionAid Thailand provided the 315 of flood relief packages to Granny Nu’s community and other affected people in the Lom-Sak district, Phetchabun. This is an area where AAT is working with women farmers to support sustainable agriculture. AAT will continue to work closely with the community, local authorities and other agencies to develop water management strategies to establish better systems for the long-termed preparedness for the future floods.

The overall flood situation in Thailand remains grim. According to government reports, the death toll has reached to 602 people and two are still missing. The floods have affected about 3 million households and about 11 million people in 64 from 77 provinces since July 2011. [23 November 2011] 

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