The Thai death toll in the Hamas attacks on Israel has risen to 24, while the numbers of injured and detained remain at 16 each. More than 7,000 Thais have applied to be evacuated back to Thailand, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told the media today (Saturday).

Stressing the urgent need to repatriate Thais, the prime minister said that the government has contacted several commercial airlines, including Thai Airways International, Nok Air and Air Asia, which have agreed to fly Thai evacuees out of Israel. A Chinese airline, Spices, has offered an Airbus-340, which can accommodate up to 300 passengers.

As Thailand has maintained its neutral stance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said that the government has not encountered any problems in seeking overflight permissions to evacuate Thais from Israel.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said the second group of 56 Thais, including two suffering gunshot wounds, arrived at the Suvarnabhumi international airport last evening.

The two injured, one a native of Nakhon Phanom and another a native of Khon Kaen, were initially taken to Bang Phli Hospital in Samut Prakan, after all the arrivals were screened by health officials.  The two were, however, discharged from the hospital today, after they had expressed their wish to receive treatment in their hometowns.

Cholnan said that 22 of the evacuees were given psychological assessments, three of whom were found to be suffering from stress, while five others suffered from anxiety. They were given medication before being sent home, where their local hospitals will follow up on their condition.

The third group of evacuees is due to arrive at U-Tapao airport in Chon Buri on Sunday.

Dr. Pongkasem Khaimook, deputy permanent secretary of public health, meanwhile, said that the Mental Health Department has set guidelines for the treatment of the evacuees, divided into three phases, namely the impact phase, which involves psychological first aid treatment during the first 24-72 hours of their return, a post-impact phase and the recovery phase.

He explained that, during the impact phase, the evacuees may experience shock, anger, sorrow or anxiety, adding that psychological first aid treatment will be provided.

The post-impact phase covers the first 2-4 weeks following the violence in Israel, when the evacuees may suffer from depression, feel sad or anxious. Medication is not needed, but peer support will help, said Dr. Pongkasem.

In the recovery phase, which is about one month after the violence, he said that some evacuees, who are unable to adjust to the new environment, may require psychological or social rehabilitation.

The Mental Health Department has opened a new hotline, 1323, to provide counselling for Thais who are still in Israel and may be experiencing psychological problems.