#056/05 November 4, 2005
U.S. Provides $1.5-Million to TTVI in Phuket
Ambassador Boyce Gives Book Bags to School Kids
Attends House Dedication Ceremony in Phang Nga
U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce today signed a cooperative agreement worth $1.5 million to assist the Thailand Tsunami Victim Identification Center (TTVI) to move its operation from Phuket to Bangkok. The agreement also provides software needed by the center and helps the Kingdom to re-raise the tsunami-damaged seawall around Phi Phi Island.
On the same day, Ambassador Boyce traveled to Takua Pa District of Phang Nga Provice to give book bags to students from Baan Bang Klak, Baan Bang Yai, and Baan Toong Yai schools. Later that afternoon, the U.S. envoy attended a house dedication ceremony organized by the Mercy Foundation at Bang Sak in Phang Nga Province.
During the signing ceremony, Ambassador Boyce said he was delighted to provide the $1.5 million to TTVI. Law enforcement authorities and disaster victim identification experts from Thailand and around the world assembled in Thailand over 10 months ago to begin the grisly task of identifying the thousands of Thais and foreign victims of the deadly tsunami of December 26, 2004, he said.
At Baan Bang Klak School, the American envoy handed out over 400 book bags to students from the three schools. He said, “I am here because the people of my country have seen terrible pictures of the destruction caused by the devastating tsunami in Takua Pa District and wanted to do something for the children in the area.” The students found school supplies such as pencils, pen, rulers, erasers, paper, and Thai-English dictionaries in those book bags.
During the house dedication ceremony, Ambassador Boyce said new houses were built by the Mercy foundation and American volunteers showed the strength of the friendship between Americans and Thais on a person to person level. “I want to express how proud I am to be here today to dedicate these 51 houses built primarily with American money and labor. Two of the most highly-regarded American characteristics are those of community service and volunteerism. When Americans saw the images of the tsunami, many started looking for ways they could help. Thailand was an obvious choice,” he said.
Ambassador Boyce concluded, “I am proud that Americans have been a part of this extraordinary effort to build these 51 houses. I am equally proud of the wonderful work done by Mercy Foundation, the Tsunami Volunteer Network, the Royal Thai Army, and all the many Thai and international volunteers who have given of their time, labor, and money to bring this area back to life.”