BANGKOK (Halbeeg News) – Eighteen Thai fishermen who were expatriated from Somalia have arrived in Bangkok on Monday.
The plane carrying crew from Dubai had landed at Suvarnabhumi airport, according to Thai authorities.
The country’s Labour Minister MR Chatu Mongol Sonakul is expected to meet with the crew later on Monday to discuss their situation.
The Thai government has helped the fishermen in rescuing them from harsh conditions onboard the Wadani 1 off Somalia’s coast.
The Thai embassy in Kenya had contacted Somali authorities after one of the crew sought help from a friend in Phuket on a video call.
They were facing short of both food and fuel.
The first group of 14 left Somalia for Dubai last Wednesday and were supposed to arrive in Bangkok the same day but were directed remain in UAE.
According to Bangkok Post, the men later stayed in Dubai until they were joined by four coworkers from the same boat who had been delayed while their documents were processed.
The labour minister said that this group of fishermen includes six from Surin province, eight from Buri Ram, two from Phetchabun and one each from Samut Sakhon and Chaiyaphum.
The other 20 Thai fishermen, who were on another vessel, are on their way to Thailand via Oman and Iran.
Mr. Chatree gave his assurance that all the fishermen will be brought back to Thailand safely, adding that all of them have been provided with food and some telephone expenses so they can call their families in Thailand.
Discussion about this post