December 2004 to March 2005

Location: Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi

Tsunami Relief - Phase 1

December 29th 2004, Operation Blessing staff and medical volunteers assisted doctors at Tha Kua Pa Hospital.

Sacks of rice, food and emergency relief packages were distributed to 649 families in Krabi.

January 2005: Children’s Day activities were arranged for Tap La Mu School which was severely damaged. “Back to School” supplies were distributed to 142 children.

A total of 34,265 meals were distributed over 11 days in Bang Muang Camp. This was possible through the partnership with Thai Phuan Peung Pa Foundation.

Tsunami Relief & Development - Phase 2

Providing cooking materials: January 2005, Operation Blessing distributed 500 gas burners and gas bottles along with other cooking supplies to families from Ban Nam Kaem, Tap La Mu, Ban Nok Na, Koh Khao Khoa and Bang Muang Camp.

Providing clean safe water for the South:

• In 2005 OB prepared 16 open wells.
• In 2006 OB purchased 370 water tanks and one water tank & pump.

Tsunami Relief & Development - Phase 3

In April 2005, OB opened a new regional office in Phang Nga to offer ongoing support to those whose lives were shattered by the tsunami. Mr. Arom Moolsan was appointed as the supervisor of this new project. The office remained open until May 2010

Boats and Equipment:

Boats form the livelihood of many in the tsunami disaster area, especially for those who work in the fishing and tourism industries.

As of March 2009, OB has purchased:

• 319new boats
• 7 used boats
• 289 new engines
• 245 fishing nets
• 5,488 squid pots

62 boats have also been repaired

Building Houses:

• New Homes: Six families on Koh Jum Island have received new homes through Operation Blessing funding.
• House Extensions: An additional 185 houses have been improved and extended to make them more livable.

Livelihood & Micro-enterprise Projects:

OB purchased equipment, materials and tools to provide families with the means of earning an income and rebuilding their lives. As necessary, training was also provided.

Initiatives and equipment:

• Sea Mussel Farms – for 20 families
• Fish Farms – for 7 families
• Crab Bank Program – 22 participants
• Mushroom Farm – 6
• Rubber Trees (9,360 trees) – for 14 families
• Motorbike with side-car – 7
• Crepe stall & equipment – 1
• Sewing machines: 2
• Food carts: 2
• Cooking equipment: 2 sets
• Building tools: 2 sets
• Car paint shop equipment: 1 set
• Batik stall materials – 1 set
• Squid pots (5,488 pots) – for 72 families
• Shrimp nets – for 2 families
• Products for clothing stall – 1
• Products for drink stall – 1
• Products for mini-market – 1
• Cold storage boxes – 2
• Engine repair tools – 1 set

Skill Training Courses

As of March 2009, OB has provided skills training for:

• Counseling - 27 people
• Engine Mechanics - 144 people
• S.E.E.D. Agriculture Project Training - 2 times

 

 

Tsunami Relief & Development Partnerships

1. We Love Thailand

OB joined the We Love Thailand coalition from late January 2005 through to September 2006.

OB International donated $300,000 USD to We Love Thailand to assist with building new boats for fishermen in Phang Nga. An additional $150,000 was provided for other tsunami related projects.

In April 2005, OB staff, CBN Siam’s Kids Only television program team and We Love Thailand, teamed together for a children’s camp at a school which had been flattened by the tsunami, in Tap La Mu, Phang Nga. One hundred and seventy children were in attendance. In April 2006 and again in 2007, the team returned to the camp to encourage and support these children.

2. Step Ahead Micro-Enterprise Development

Step Ahead Training Center is located in Phang Nga. Step Ahead teaches English & German, along with hospitality, computing and cooking skills.

OB International donated $96,000 USD to help fund the first year of operations for Step Ahead's Training Center. In 2007, OB provided monthly support of $4,500; $7,000 per month in 2008; and $14,910 per month for the 2009 fiscal year. Some of this funding was used to support four preschools, a handicrafts project and a mushroom and orchid farm.