Clinton meets Thai flood victims

2011-11-17 45

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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met victims of Thailand's disastrous flooding on Thursday (November 17), her last stop on a two-day trip to the country.
Clinton bowed in the traditional Thai greeting, and talked to refugees at Bangkok's Rajamangala National Stadium Flood Relief Centre, which houses more than 1,400 people who were forced to leave their homes.
The floods, the worst in five decades, have killed more than 500 people, and affected around two million since late July, with tens of thousands relocated or sheltering in evacuation centres.
Clinton pledged an additional 10 million U.S. dollars in aid, when she met with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday (November 16) evening.
The U.S. first gave aid to Thailand when flooding became critical in October, providing equipment for an overwhelmed police force and offering direct assistance to victims.
Clinton is due to leave Bangkok later on Thursday for the East Asia summit in Bali, which will also be attended by U.S. President Barack Obama.