Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesman Cherdkiat Atthakor confirmed an estimated 5,000 Thais overseas have made contacts with the Thai embassies and consular offices in foreign countries worldwide asking for a flight home, which is yet to be provided.
Though the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand is temporarily prohibiting airliners with passengers aboard from landing at any airport throughout Thailand until April 18, repatriation flights for those Thais coming from overseas are exempted in the meantime, according to the ministry's spokesman.
The Thai embassies and consular offices have been providing face masks, alcohol gel and food for the Thais currently stranded at airports and elsewhere in foreign countries where they are staying, he said.