The Phuan Phueng (Pha) Yam Yak Foundation, under the Princess's patronage, yesterday gave 1,000 relief packages to flood victims in Sukhothai's Sri Satchanalai district, along with Bt50,000 for food expenses for rescuers and staff at the local relief centre.

The Rajaprajanigroh Foundation, which is also under Royal Patronage, meanwhile, handed out 500 relief packages to seven villages in the province's Sawankhalok district.

In the South, people from 60 villages in Krabi and Phang Nga provinces, which were affected by the tsunami in 2004, have collected Bt1.8 million to help flood victims in Uttaradit. Part of the money has come from the funds donated for tsunami relief.

Students from Prince of Songkhla University have opened a donation centre for necessities such as shoes, boots and drugs for Hong Kong Foot.

Meanwhile, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has set up a fund to help victims and contributed the first Bt1 million.

The PAD said the money would be given directly to people suffering, rather than going through the slow bureaucratic system.

The PAD has also promised to bring a caravan of help to the flood-hit areas before the end of the month.

Several state banks, such as the Government Savings Bank and The Government Housing Bank, will provide low-interest loans to flood victims to restore their properties. They have also reduced the interest rate for current debtors.

The Thai Chamber of Commerce will transfer 10,000 packs of necessities including rice, dried foods, sugar and salt to the flood-affected areas within a week.

Many food-manufacturers have also contributed products to the aid effort such as CP Group, which is donating 4,000 boiled eggs and 2,000 bottles of drinking water per day to people in all the affected areas.

The Mirror Foundation will recruit flood-aid volunteers today at its headquarters.

Volunteers must be able to spend at least three days in the affected areas.