Thai spokesperson refutes claims of exhausted flood relief funds

Government spokesperson Dr. Ekkaphop Phianphiset has refuted claims made by People's Party MP Suphanat Meenachainant regarding the exhaustion of flood relief funds. Responding to assertions that the 5,290 million baht budget had been depleted, Dr. Ekkaphop clarified that remaining funds from the 2026 fiscal year central budget, totaling approximately 4,700 million baht, are available for relief efforts.

Additionally, the spokesperson noted that provincial governors have the authority to disburse disaster relief funds, with a standard limit of 50 million baht per province, while Bangkok's limit is set at 100 million baht. He emphasized that the government can request further approvals from the current fiscal year's central budget if necessary.

Dr. Ekkaphop also highlighted the importance of national disaster insurance to mitigate budget risks and ensure faster aid delivery. He noted that this approach aligns with recommendations from the World Bank and IMF, which encourage countries to implement disaster insurance to manage unpredictable crisis costs more effectively.