During the major flood crisis in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province in 2025, many communities faced prolonged hardship. Water levels rose as high as thigh-deep in some areas and remained for over a month, disrupting daily life, damaging homes, and leaving people struggling with uncertainty and extreme difficulty.
“Back then, the flooding was severe—water reached inside the kitchen, about thigh-high, and lasted around a month,” recalled Grandma Phen, an elderly resident, vividly reflecting the hardships of that time.
The Role of Volunteers: The Frontline of Listening and Support
During the crisis, when travel became extremely difficult, the volunteer network of the World Vision Foundation of Thailand—based within affected communities—played a vital role in ensuring that assistance could still reach those in need.
‘Miss Pornthip,’ a World Vision volunteer, was one of the key coordinators providing aid in the area.
She shared that the flooding lasted up to 15 days, directly impacting mobility and access to food and basic necessities. Various agencies, including the World Vision Foundation of Thailand, continually deployed teams to the field to listen, assess needs, and plan appropriate assistance—especially for vulnerable children and families in the Child Sponsorship Program.
Efforts did not stop at assessment but extended into tangible support. Relief packages containing nutritionally adequate food and essential hygiene kits—basic necessities for affected households—were distributed.
“What we received were essential items for our family. They helped ease our hardship a lot,” she said, also conveying gratitude from the community to supporters, sponsors, and the World Vision Foundation of Thailand.
Voices from Youth: When Education and Daily Life Were Disrupted
The impact of the flood extended beyond livelihoods, affecting children’s education and daily routines.
‘Mr. Phakkapong,’ a World Vision youth leader and one of those directly affected, shared that during the flooding, his family was unable to leave their home. Schools were forced to close for over a month, bringing both education and normal life to a halt.
During that difficult time, the support from the World Vision Foundation of Thailand meant a great deal—from emotional encouragement and regular check-ins to the provision of essential supplies.
“The items we received were very useful for me and my family,” he said with a smile, expressing gratitude to all who stood by the community.
Systematic Response: Humanitarian Expertise of the World Vision Foundation of Thailand
Although the situation has now improved, the impacts continue to affect the lives of many. The World Vision Foundation of Thailand responded immediately with emergency assistance, covering food and essential supplies, establishing community kitchens for affected families, providing psychosocial support for children, and supplying educational materials to help children return to school as quickly as possible.
In addition, the Foundation implemented the “Southern Flood Recovery Project 2025.”
To date, the project has delivered more than 6,322 relief packages—including food and hygiene essentials—to affected families in Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Narathiwat provinces, reaching over 24,711 people, including 9,865 children.
Specifically in Nakhon Si Thammarat, over 2,100 packages were distributed, benefiting more than 8,200 people, including over 3,200 children.
Beyond emergency relief, efforts have focused on restoring the quality of life for children, families, communities, and schools—covering livelihoods, education, nutrition, health, and child protection. For example:
In education, essential teaching and learning materials were provided, along with repairs to 20 schools and child development centers, enabling them to safely resume operations. More than 11,187 people benefited, including 1,305 children.
In healthcare, critical medical equipment was supplied to strengthen local health services, including one Electrocardiogram (ECG) machine donated to Hat Yai Hospital and two High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) devices provided to Songklanagarind Hospital. These have enhanced treatment capacity, supporting care for over 426,000 patients annually.
Beyond Relief: Managing Disaster Risk Reduction
World Vision Foundation of Thailand continues its mission in disaster risk reduction through emergency response support and long-term community strengthening. This includes building community capacity to monitor and mitigate environmental risks, while enhancing coordination among local authorities, partner organizations, and civil society.
World Vision Foundation of Thailandhopes that the knowledge and skills gained will be applied in real situations—contributing to improved safety, reduced losses, and better quality of life for children, families, and communities when disasters occur.
Because in the hardest days, having someone stand beside you does not just help you survive the crisis—it helps you see hope for a new beginning.
