NORTHEAST, EASTERN THAILAND FACE SEVERE DROUGHT Thirteen provinces, mainly in northeast and eastern Thailand, have been suffering a worse than average drought since mid-February and the dry spell is expected to last until early May, Deputy Interior Minister Santi Chaiviratana said. Santi told reporters the government is launching a drought relief operation mainly involving the use of water trucks to send water to affected farming areas. He did not say what crops have been damaged in northeast Thailand but said large durian orchards in eastern Chanthaburi province have suffered heavy losses. The Minister said the affected areas include eight provinces in the northeast, two in eastern Thailand and three rubber growing provinces in the south near the Malaysian border.