Thailand sending medical supplies and rice to Philipines

Abhisit said that he already assigned ministries concerned to provide humanitarian assistance to Philippines which could include rice and medical supplies.

Meanwhile Director general of Medical Sciences Department Dr Rewat Visarutvej said that the humanitarian assistance to Philippines will be similar to that giving to Burma which was hit by cyclone Nargis last year.

He added that local medical officials in 14 northeastern Thai provinces are on alert for Ketsana which is now moving toward Vietnam and was expected to hit Mukdaharn of Thailand on Wednesday.

Weather department warned Tuesday morning that storm Ketsana was centered over the South China Sea about 220 km east of Danang, Vietnam with sustained winds of 140 km/hr.

It said Ketsana is expected to move across neighboring Laos to Mukdahan by September 30. People in at-risk areas of the northeastern province along the foothills near waterways and in the lowlands should beware of flooding during this period.

In the Philippines, at least 240 people were killed and nearly two million people affected in the country's worst flooding in more than 40 years. More than 370,000 others were forced to seek shelter in evacuation camps.

Philippine officials have called for international help, warning they may not have sufficient resources to withstand another storm brewing east of the island nation which could hit as early as Friday.

President Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday also opened her official residence, Malacanang Palace, as part of disaster relief efforts to flood survivors who are seeking food, medicine and shelter.