Military clashes broke out today (24th) between Thailand and Cambodia at the border of at least six regions, with both sides exchanging fire and resulting in multiple civilian injuries.
Currently, several Thai civil rescue teams have urgently rushed to the frontlines and surrounding areas to assist in rescue and evacuation operations.
Wat Ban Rai Temple in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, has also dispatched two brand-new ambulances purchased just last month to support rescue efforts in the conflict-affected area of Buriram Province, located in the northeast (Isan region).
These ambulances were originally scheduled to be officially handed over to the local hospital on August 31 this year. However, in this time of emergency, the temple has decided to put them into service early and send them to the frontline.
These two ambulances were acquired through a fundraising initiative led by Venerable JACK LOKE, a Malaysian monk practicing in Thailand. The charitable act received support from Buddhists in Malaysia and multiple countries, successfully raising funds to purchase a total of four ambulances aimed at supporting Thailand’s rural healthcare system.
Venerable JACK LOKE pointed out that in the face of the sudden border conflict, in order to ease the burden on rescue units and assist victims in distress, he and the temple’s volunteer team urgently coordinated and decided to deploy two of the ambulances to the affected area. The temple is about five hours’ drive from the border frontline, and the team prepared basic medical supplies and volunteers before departure.
“This is out of humanitarian spirit; we are willing to do what little we can, and even if we can only provide a bit of help, we hope it can bring some warmth to the injured and those in distress.”