On April 24 a devastating fire struck a slum community in the Rama 9 area of Bangkok. Fifty-one homes were destroyed leaving 178 people homeless, including 61 children and 117 adults.  Among the homeless are four children with severe disabilities and 11 elderly residents.

The situation is dire. Most families in this community are headed by parents who work as day laborers, earning below the minimum daily wage (300 baht  - approx. US $10.) Like most slum residents, they are already over-burdened with household debt. And following the fire they have lost what little they ever called their own.

The slum community leaders and residents  have asked our Mercy Centre to assist.

Our outreach and housing teams are working hand in hand with the community. In addition to providing emergency assistance with food and shelter, we are helping the community to organize and petition government welfare and housing offices in order to rebuild the 51 homes as quickly as possible.

There are obstacles all along the way. Even removing the debris left in the wake of the fire is a major hurdle that requires petitioning government authorities.  As soon as we can, we will start to rebuild.

Please help us as the need is urgent. The government will provide some support; and the community itself will provide much of the labor; but our own costs in rebuilding the community, home by home, are staggering. Please see the detailed housing costs below. Our out-of-pocket costs are 54,000 Thai Baht  (approximately US $1,800) per home

Slum fires create chaos, especially when they hit squatter communities, like this one, where the residents have few or no rights to rebuild their homes on the land where they have lived their whole lives.

In the past 40 years we have come to the aid of dozens of communities throughout Bangkok  – and built over 10,000 homes - following major slum fires. We know how to expedite construction and how to rebuild in ways that strengthen the community and make it safer. In every instance, we have needed additional support from our friends around the world.

Please help as you can today. The community needs to move quickly if it is to survive as a community. Please contact us if you would like more details. Pictured above - community residents left homeless; below, remnants of their homes.

Per home reconstruction costs: (Thai Baht)

Foundation pillars: 4,000

Wood: 37,000

Windows/frames: 4,000

Door/Door frames: 2,000

Roof/tiling: 5,000

Dry wall: 3,500

Screws, nails, bolts: 500

Toilet: 1000 Plus

Electric and Water: 20,000

Tools: 1,000

Food/Emergency Aid: 1,000

Labor: 5,000

Total Cost per home: 84,000 Thai Baht (note: 31 Baht = US $1)

Government Subsidy: 30,000

Mercy Centre’s Cost: 54,000 Baht per home (Approx. US $1,800)

A major fire occurred earlier this week in the Rama 9 slum community. One community member died; another is still missing; and forty-eight homes were destroyed.  Mercy Social Workers are assisting the community – cooking food, bringing bedding, securing life’s daily necessities, and ensuring that the children are safe and healthy. We are coordinating with community leaders as well as housing and government authorities to rebuild every home lost to the fire.

In addition, earlier this week there was a second slum fire - this one in the Bon Kai slum community. Twenty homes were destroyed. We are surveying the damage, speaking with community leaders, and will update you with specific needs and requests for assistance regarding both fires next week.

Photo above: K. Prapai, a Mercy social worker, surveys the devastation in the Rama 9 slum community. Below, a food vendor's cart - and livelihood - are destroyed by the fire.

In the past 40 years, the Human Development Foundation has built over 10,000 homes following devastating slum fires.

In receiving his promotion to Second Lieutenant within the Port Authority Precinct of the Royal Thai Police, Khun Aumnaj Boonyamatee asked Fr. Joe to pin his new insignia to his police uniform. Of the many formal and informal ceremonial duties that Fr. Joe performs, he says that this one gave him great honor because Khun Aumnaj is a true slum hero: Second Lietenant Aumnaj works with our Mercy legal aid teams to protect the poorest and most vulnerable Klong Toey children.

We wish to share with you a feature article about Fr. Joe and Mercy Centre recently published in Ireland’s Sunday Business Post Magazine.  You can view the article here. Please be a little patient – it may take a minute to download.

http://mercycentre.org/images/documents/sundaybusinesspost.pdf

Thank you all, as always, for your friendship and support.

Usanee and the Mercy Teams

Yesterday we celebrated the Songkran holiday – as we always do, according to Thai traditions – by giving honor to our elderly neighbors. Hundreds of Klong Toey slum grandmoms and granddads attended the ceremonies, led by the Monks from Wat Saphan, our local Temple. Fr. Joe and Sister Maria spoke to our elderly neighbors, thanking them for being the heart and soul of our beloved Klong Toey slum: “You gave birth to your children here,” Father Joe said, “and  you raised your families here.... You are what make our slum a beautiful and holy place.  We are what we are today because of you.”

We wish all our friends a very Happy Thai New Year! (Photo gallery here.)