No need for stockpiling, Ministry of Defence clarifies - Bangkok Post

People stock up on essential supplies during the Bangkok floods in September. Thailand’s Ministry of Defence issued a statement on Thursday clarifying that the public does not need to stockpile food, water or medical supplies in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The statement followed reports that cited a supposed advisory from the National Security Council (NSC) recommending that households prepare essential items for a 72-hour period.

The secretary-general of the NSC has since confirmed that no such directive or request was issued by the agency.

The NSC continues to closely monitor and assess the situation in the Middle East while coordinating with relevant agencies to maintain appropriate national preparedness, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement posted to its official Facebook page.

Clarifications were issued to prevent public misunderstanding after several reports drew parallels to emergency preparedness guidelines issued by foreign governments.

Countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and several European nations periodically advise citizens to maintain 72-hour emergency kits — containing non-perishable food, clean drinking water, basic medical supplies, and batteries — as standard policy under their national disaster management frameworks.

Similar guidance is actively promoted in Scandinavia. Sweden and Finland, for example, distribute public preparedness brochures advising households to store enough food, water and heating supplies to remain self-sufficient for at least 72 hours during severe disruptions.

Foreign authorities emphasise that these long-standing advisories are designed to ensure household resilience during natural disasters, power grid failures, extreme weather events or cyberattacks, and do not signal an impending global conflict or war.