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Overview
Thailand is a Buddhist country of 67 million people with a strong economy and, at times, a troubled constitutional democracy. Over the past three decades, its geography, politics and economy have caused it to play reluctant host to hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighboring countries.
Current Humanitarian Situation
Today, 140,000 Burmese of various ethnic groups reside in 9 refugee camps, termed “temporary shelters” despite their existence for nearly 30 years. Hundreds of thousands of other Burmese fleeing ethnic persecution and conflict, particularly the Shan, live as illegal migrants without access to refugee protection or assistance. Others, like the stateless, Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority, sometimes enter Thailand waters en route to Malaysia on precarious wooden boats, and are pushed back to sea or indefinitely detained, as they have no country which accepts them as its citizens. The Thai government permits UNHCR to facilitate the international resettlement of Burmese registered in camps, and to date, over 60,000 have been resettled, mainly to the United States. However, the government has given no indication of when it will be able to screen an additional 70,000 unregistered camp dwellers or assess the claims of thousands of other refugees who reside outside the camps, including 10,000 refugees who fled their homes in November 2010 and are now living in unofficial camps on the border with little assistance. Aid agencies like the Thailand Burma Border Consortium have been providing desperately needed cross-border humanitarian assistance to thousands of displaced people in the conflict-ridden areas of Burma, to which there is no access from inside. RI supports the continuation of this life saving assistance.
Action Needed
The international community should encourage Thailand to retain an open door for persons fleeing persecution. Thailand needs to re-start and sustain the Provincial Admission Boards to screen the claims of Burmese asylum seekers under international refugee protection principles and permit UNHCR to aid asylum seekers and those in detention. The US and the international community should continue cross border humanitarian assistance to Burmese at risk and work with Thailand in supporting programs that aid refugees who are not resettled to obtain the needed education, skills and mobility to become self-reliant and productive temporary residents of Thailand. As one of the biggest investors in Burma, Thailand should press the Burmese government to address the appalling human rights violations which drive people to flee, and improve humanitarian conditions in ethnic areas.
Thailand
Field Reports In-Depth Reports Letters & Testimonies
Thailand is a Buddhist country of 67 million people with a strong economy and, at times, a troubled constitutional democracy. Over the past three decades, its geography, politics and economy have caused it to play reluctant host to hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighboring countries.
Current Humanitarian Situation
Today, 140,000 Burmese of various ethnic groups reside in 9 refugee camps, termed “temporary shelters” despite their existence for nearly 30 years. Hundreds of thousands of other Burmese fleeing ethnic persecution and conflict, particularly the Shan, live as illegal migrants without access to refugee protection or assistance. Others, like the stateless, Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority, sometimes enter Thailand waters en route to Malaysia on precarious wooden boats, and are pushed back to sea or indefinitely detained, as they have no country which accepts them as its citizens. The Thai government permits UNHCR to facilitate the international resettlement of Burmese registered in camps, and to date, over 60,000 have been resettled, mainly to the United States. However, the government has given no indication of when it will be able to screen an additional 70,000 unregistered camp dwellers or assess the claims of thousands of other refugees who reside outside the camps, including 10,000 refugees who fled their homes in November 2010 and are now living in unofficial camps on the border with little assistance. Aid agencies like the Thailand Burma Border Consortium have been providing desperately needed cross-border humanitarian assistance to thousands of displaced people in the conflict-ridden areas of Burma, to which there is no access from inside. RI supports the continuation of this life saving assistance.
Action Needed
The international community should encourage Thailand to retain an open door for persons fleeing persecution. Thailand needs to re-start and sustain the Provincial Admission Boards to screen the claims of Burmese asylum seekers under international refugee protection principles and permit UNHCR to aid asylum seekers and those in detention. The US and the international community should continue cross border humanitarian assistance to Burmese at risk and work with Thailand in supporting programs that aid refugees who are not resettled to obtain the needed education, skills and mobility to become self-reliant and productive temporary residents of Thailand. As one of the biggest investors in Burma, Thailand should press the Burmese government to address the appalling human rights violations which drive people to flee, and improve humanitarian conditions in ethnic areas.
Field Reports
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03/24/2011The eruption of conflict between the Burmese military and an ethnic rebel faction in eastern Burma has forced over 30,000 people to flee to Thailand since November 2010. Skirmishes are ongoing and both parties have planted landmines in people’s villages and farmlands. While the Thai government has a long-standing policy of providing refuge for “those fleeing fighting,” the Thai army is pressuring Burmese to return prematurely and restricting aid agencies. Unless the Thai Government strengthens its policy to protect those fleeing fighting and persecution, current and future refugees will have no choice but to join the ranks of millions of undocumented and unprotected migrant workers in Thailand.
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09/30/2009Burmese refugees have been living in Thailand for more than two decades. The situation is fluid: resettlement programs have provided tens of thousands of people with new lives, while a new wave of conflict in Burma is changing the political landscape and forcing thousands of new refugees to flee into Thailand.
In Depth Reports
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10/22/2008Statelessness, or the lack of effective nationality, impacts the daily lives of some 11-12 million people around the world. Perhaps those who suffer most are stateless infants, children and youth. Though born and raised in their parents’ country of habitual residence, they lack formal recognition of their existence.
Advocacy Letters
Refugees International (RI) advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.