Cabinet approves Bt1.7bn for property repair and bomb shelters along border

The cabinet approved 1.7 billion baht to build bomb shelters in seven provinces bordering Cambodia and to pay additional compensation to households affected by the fierce fighting late last month between Thai and Cambodian forces.

Chanin Rungtanakiat, secretary to the interior minister, said that the additional money will be used to pay compensation to many households who were forced to evacuate.

Each household which was evacuated for less than seven days will be paid 2,000 baht each and 5,000 baht for each household which was sheltered at an evacuation centre for more than a week, he said, adding that the total amount of compensation is estimated at 1.5 billion baht.

Building of 779 new bomb shelters in seven border provinces and repairs to broadcast towers is estimated to cost about 194 million baht.

Tens of thousands of households in 4,000 villages in seven provinces were evacuated.

The families of civilians who were killed are to receive 10 million baht in compensation, payable from the Central Fund. The affected households are also exempted from paying electricity and water bills for July and August.

Village volunteers are also to be paid 120-240 per diems while performing their duties at evacuation centres.