BANGKOK, March 6 – As northern Thailand has been blanketed by haze for over a week, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday said the affected provinces could immediately declare themselves disaster zones so that emergency funds can be allocated to apply to the problems.

Deputy Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon announced the premier’s remarks after Ms Yingluck chaired the cabinet meeting Tuesday morning before departing for Japan.

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