Refugees International: Missions: Thailand: October mission to focus on Burma's eastern border

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Thailand: October mission to focus on Burma's eastern border

Burma 2005: Working in the fields in Bagan

10/26/2005

RI Mission to Focus on Conditions for Internally Displaced People along Burma's Eastern Border

Refugees International is undertaking a mission to Thailand in October and November to assess the humanitarian and protection conditions of the internally displaced people living along Burma’s eastern border.

For more than a decade the military government in Burma has violated the human rights of the people, particularly the rights of ethnic minorities. As a result, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced within the country or have fled to neighboring countries in search of asylum. The asylum seekers interviewed by RI have cited threats to their lives and security as well as coercion towards cultural assimilation as reasons for their flight.

According to various analysts, currently there are at least half a million internally displaced people in eastern Burma. Groups based in Thailand, monitoring the conditions along the border, have pointed out that the displaced in Burma are extremely vulnerable, often with very limited access to food, shelter and medicine. Moreover, the displaced are faced with chronic insecurity due to the ongoing conflict between the Burmese army and insurgent groups. International agencies working in Burma are not allowed to access or provide relief to the people in the conflict zones.

While in Thailand, RI will determine the needs of the internally displaced along the border, through interviews of recent arrivals who were formerly displaced, and discuss potential response strategies with local and international actors.