• The haze and air pollution that has covered the northern provinces of Thailand over the past two weeks is taking its toll on the health of local residents. Chiang Mai province has reported 2,059 persons with respiratory ailments seeking treatment at local hospitals each day. In Chiang Rai province, the average is approximately 1,000 patients per day.

The haze is the result of widespread man-made forest fires and farmers in Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Cambodia employing the slash-and-burn technique to prepare land for the cultivation of crops during the dry season. It is also due to the extended cold season this year, which resulted in low pressure prevailing over the area and exacerbating the haze situation. In addition, the haze has settled in valleys, making it harder to dissipate.

• Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has issued directives for the establishment of an operations centre to address the haze situation in Northern Thailand and to provide disaster relief. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Mr. Paiboon Watanasiritham, has been assigned the responsibility of implementing an emergency decree and in spearheading immediate emergency relief efforts. Strict control measures are being enforced. All fires in low-lying areas are to be completely extinguished within three days, and within a seven-day period for all affected areas throughout Northern Thailand.
  
  
• Chiang Mai Province
  The Chiang Mai Municipal Office continues its efforts to improve air quality and increase humidity in the atmosphere by using water sprays and fire engines to spray water into the air. The technique is believed to be effective in dispersing clouds of dust, consisting of dust particles measuring less than 10 microns.
  The water droplets will help reduce the level of dust and smoke in the air. It is hoped that these water-spraying operations will help clear the thick haze and also induce rain.

However if such measures fail to significantly improve the environmental situation and air quality, Chiang Mai province will move up the date of its traditional Songkran Thai New Year celebrations from April 13 – 16, 2007 to April 1-16, in the hope that the cleansing water-splashing tradition will help wash away dust particles suspended in the air and increase humidity.

• Chiang Rai Province
  Chiang Rai province has been declared a haze disaster zone. The province has allocated a 50-million baht relief fund to provide assistance to individuals affected by the environmental disaster.

International Public Relations Division, TAT
March 16, 2007

Update as of 15 March 2007
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