Refugees

Burma’s 60 years of ongoing civil war – the world’s longest – has driven what was once a wealthy regional power into one of the poorest countries in the world. Endemic issues face Burma. With over 500,000 internally displaced people (IDP), a general lack of infrastructure, few education opportunities and poor healthcare, the people of Burma face many challenges. Due…

Despite Burma’s, Aung San Suu Kyi’s lightening fast trip to Mae La Refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand, the pro-democracy leader still managed to come out fighting on behalf of the camp residents. Suu Kyi, surrounded by Thai security, was unable to meet the thousands of refugees who had gathered at the camp’s football ground in the hope of hearing…

Thousands of Burmese people living and working in the Thai border town of Mae Sot say they are bitterly disappointed they did not to get to see their hero Aung San Suu Kyi when she visited the area today. Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace laureate was in the region to visit Mae La refugee camp, to meet ethnic leaders later…

Burma’s pro-democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has arrived at Mae La refugee camp, home to 45,000 refugees from Burma. Thousands of refugees have packed the muddy football field in the hope of seeing and hearing the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Refugees gathered in the camp’s football ground to hear Suu Kyi told Karen News. “Of course all us…

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is scheduled to visit Mae La refugee camp on Saturday June 2, located in Thailand’s Tak province an organizer of her confirmed to Karen News. Colonel Eh Kaw Htoo, commander of the KNLA/KNU Peace Council Border Security Special Forces told Karen News. “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will visit Mae La refugee camp on June…

Its early morning and grey mist and smoke from cooking fires covers the makeshift crowded bamboo huts that is Tham Thin refugee camp. Small girls and boys dressed in a combination of white collared shirts and blue short or skirts tag along side their as they turn up for the first day of the new school year. Tham Hin is…

European Union delegates and a number of foreign ambassadors to Thailand visited the Tham Hin refugee camp in Rachaburi province. The group of diplomats told refugee leaders that they will be negotiating with the Burma government to ensure refugees can return to their country safely The diplomats said refugees should try to acquire skills in case of possible repatriation. Saw…

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Mae Sot told refugees at Umpiem Mai camp their registration depends on permission from the Thai government even if the UN agency is willing to grant UN refugee status to people. Staff from the UNHCR Mae Sot office were in Umpiem Mai refugee camp on May 16 to explain the refugee…

Since ceasefire talks between the Karen National Union and the Burma government refugees in camps in Thailand are facing an uncertain future. Rumors about repartition plans and funding cuts by international donors have all added to the tension. Last week as many as 100 protesters took to the streets to voice their concerns over refugee registration. Around 100 new refugees…

A fire has destroyed a bible school and other buildings in Mae La Refugee Camp, 57km north of the Thai town of Mae Sot at 12.30pm today. Camp residents managed to put out the fire after about an hour. A camp resident whom witnessed the fire explained to Karen News that the fire destroyed several buildings in the Kawthoolei Karen…