So it was $3M paid for by a rich guy? Was he going to donate the money to charity if he didn't spend it on this?

Especially in a place like Thailand where there is a lot of real poverty still.

Can we expect 1 person to sacrifice their life for every 13 children in need?

Helping every child in poverty requires a long term paced effort rather than a one time heroic one. As inspiring as this rescue was, it doesn't scale.

[0] is the first source that popped up on a quick googling; the US alone spent 18 billion dollars between 2002 and 2014 on food aid (to hungry children and such).

[0] http://www.humanosphere.org/world-politics/2014/10/united-st...

What do you mean? The OP question is straightforward. How can you twist the meaning that much is beyond me