UN assistance gives Thai officials better monitoring data to deal with flood crisis

After a request from the Thai Government, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has arranged through a series of international partners to provide the Government with up-to-the-minute international satellite images of both flood waters and flood wave dynamics.

The partnership will also ensure long-term capacity development for disaster risk management in Thailand and ongoing regular access to relevant satellite-based data.

At least 370 people have died since the floods began in Thailand several weeks ago following unusually heavy rainfall and vast swathes of the country, including the capital, Bangkok, now lie under water.

Thailand is one of a handful of Asian countries to be hard hit by floods and heavy rains in recent weeks, with Pakistan, Cambodia and the Philippines among the other nations badly affected.

### > United Nations (UN).

The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership totals 192 countries.

When States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes:

• to maintain international peace and security;
• to develop friendly relations among nations;
• to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
• and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.

### * The above story is adapted from materials provided by United Nations (UN) ** More information at United Nations (UN)