UNICEF distributing hygiene, sanitation items in flood-affected Thailand to help prevent disease spread

"The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is distributing more than 300,000 hygiene and sanitation items to flood-affected families in Thailand, in an effort to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in the Asian country," Bernama reports. The risk of water-borne diseases is increased in flood-affected areas, but that risk "can be reduced through safe sanitation and improved hygiene practices, such as frequent hand washing," according to the news agency (11/11). According to a UNICEF press release, the agency "has budgeted $1.2 million to provide emergency relief and post-flood assistance ... in the areas of health, child protection, water supply and sanitation, hygiene promotion and education" to an estimated three million flood-affected people (11/10).