United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his sympathy for flood victims amid the hardships they are undergoing.
"I feel sympathy for those who have lost their belongings, family and properties," Mr Ban told flood victims at the Chulalongkorn Flood Relief Centre.
"The reality is very shocking and surprising. This is a natural disaster. I have seen many flooded areas."
He made his remarks after a helicopter tour of Bangkok's western side, Thon Buri, and one of the hardest-hit flood areas, Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate in Pathum Thani and Don Mueang airport.
Mr Ban, accompanied by his wife Ban Soon-taek on the helicopter tour, was paying a one-day visit to the country yesterday. He was en route to attend the Asean-UN summit in Bali, Indonesia.
Mr Ban said he was saddened and humbled by what he had seen and felt sorry for the victims. The government was working hard and has cooperated well with its international partners to help solve the flooding problem.
"I am sure the government and the people can overcome this as well as recovering and reconstructing as the water may take more days to recede," he said.
Mr Ban said he would propose that Asean member states work together for better disaster preparedness.
"We need to strengthen our capacity as we cannot predict such disasters but if we prepare well, we can save people's lives," he said.
The UN will continue providing assistance to countries to manage such disasters, he said.
Before taking the helicopter tour and visiting the Chula Flood Relief Centre, Mr Ban went to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap).
There, he praised Thailand's universal health system for enabling thousands of flood victims to gain access to essential healthcare. The scheme provided help to the poor with chronic diseases which required costly treatment, he said.
Collaboration between public, non-governmental and private organisations in prioritising health benefits was the key, and worthy of emulation by others.
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