When sudden flash floods inundated the northern province of Chiangmai, Thailand in early October, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) responded immediately, providing survival kits for more than 150 households in two of the affected communities.

Flash flooding and mudslides caused by heavy rain earlier this month killed nearly 40 people, and caused extensive damage to more than 42 villages, affecting 27,000 people. Nearly 30 homes were washed away, leaving approximately 700 people homeless and seeking safe shelter.

“The villages of Baan Yang and Baan Pang-Kwai have been badly affected by the heavy flash flooding and mudslides,” said Titima Wanwilaiwan, assistant country director for the ADRA office in Thailand. “Nearly 30 houses were washed away, more than 120 houses were badly damaged, leaving seven people dead, and approximately 700 people homeless.”

The village of Baan Yang was heavily affected by the disaster, with 40 households completely cut off from access to clean water, electricity, transportation, and food for more than three days after the disaster.

ADRA provided survival kits to 81 households in Baan Yang and 73 households in Baan Pang-Kwai. One kit is designed to meet the needs of four persons per household for three days. Larger households received additional supplies. ADRA’s response assisted more than 900 individuals affected by the flash flooding.

Each kit included basic necessities such as potash alum (for water sanitation), boots to help prevent villagers from contracting water-borne diseases, hygienic products, mosquito nets, and food. ADRA also included in each packet an information sheet detailing the best ways and methods to use the contents of the packs, and the contact information for various local authorities involved in the response, including ADRA.

Project funding was provided by ADRA International, the ADRA Asia Regional Office in Bangkok, and ADRA Thailand. The intervention was completed by October 13.

ADRA Thailand, which has been active since 1979, is headquartered in Bangkok. The office is well known for its campaign against human trafficking, its opium rehabilitation program, and its tsunami relief and recovery projects. Its main portfolios are water and sanitation, food security, economic development, education, health, and emergency management.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.