Thailand is a good neighbor. Thailand had dispatched its third humanitarian mission to neighboring Myanmar to provide food, medical relief and assistance in the aftermath of the recent earthquake that also took lives and damaged buildings in the Kingdom.

Nearly 4,000 people have perished in Myanmar as of mid-April and the number is expected to climb higher. China, India, Russia, Malaysia and Singapore have also sent rescue teams to Thailand’s western neighbor while others have pledged financial assistance.

Operation Mandalay 82, Thailand’s third contingent, includes 17 officers from the Royal Thai Armed Forces, responsible for command, coordination, logistics, communications and security, along with a 30-member medical team from the Ministry of Public Health.

While rescue efforts continued in Bangkok, a team departed for central Myanmar, reflecting the spirit of regional cooperation in responding to the incident.

Medical teams from Thailand’s previous two missions have delivered life-saving care to hundreds of people in remote areas. Thai engineering teams have constructed temporary shelters, installed lighting systems, and provided communications support. The teams have also delivered donations from Thailand’s people.

Asia and the Pacific is the region that suffers from the highest number of natural disasters. Many of its countries are part of the Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped zone where tectonic plates collide. Most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanoes are located along the Ring of Fire.

In mid-April, a 3.5 magnitude earthquake rattled the resort island of Krabi, but damage was modest, and no casualties have been reported.

Photo: www.bangkokbiznews.com/business/economic/1173453