Talk about flood relief!

Anurak Suchat's 'judnak' bag is an instant toilet when the potty's out of reach

One of the first things that comes to mind in a flood crisis is making sure everyone has enough to eat and drink. Much later we think about how they can go to the bathroom when there are no toilets.

Award-winning designer Anurak Suchat thought about it, though, and realised that the portable toilets being distributed - even the ones on rafts or made with folding cardboard - wouldn't be enough.

So he conceived the bright orange judnak bag, using the term for "heavy task". A bundle of them fits easily into relief packages, and they certainly do bring relief: With a judnak, you can do your business virtually anytime and anywhere.

As well, once the floodwater recedes, the judnak bags won't linger among the expected mountain of garbage. It's biodegradable and will disappear within six months.

Using the bag is as easy as snapping it over the rim of a small bucket or a large plastic bottle with the neck cut away.

Then you tie up the top of the bag and pop it into a judtem, a larger version of the judnak. It can stay there during the inundation or be buried if you have the chance.

Anurak came up with the idea a few weeks ago and with four friends - one of them in Hong Kong - set up a Facebook page to spread the word. There's no intention to make money, but he needed to find suppliers and financial backers.

The biodegradable plastic is easy enough to get, but he wants to make up to three million bags, and that's going to need sponsors with cash.

"There's no patent - I'm more than willing to let any big company take over the idea and produce them," Anurak says. "Or they could just contact us to help finance the production."

So far Bt100, 000 has come from Sansiri Plc and Bt200,000 from IRPC Plc.

Judnak bags are not available for individuals, only organisations like the Red Cross that work directly with flood victims.

Anurak's group recently distributed thousands of packages to the Army and at Chulalongkorn University, each containing 30 judnak and three judtem.

PACK A BAG

<< You can volunteer to pack the bags or you can donate money. Find out how on the "judnakbag" Facebook page.

<< Donations can also go to "Arurak Suchat for Judnak bag project" at K-bank 613-2-121565, Praditmanutham branch, or SCB 402-791358-9, Crystal Park branch.