Refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has confirmed today that 45 refugees were killed in a fire that tore through the Baan Mae Surin camp at around 4pm on Friday afternoon. Karen News is led to understand that most of the dead were trapped in the camp hospital. Two severely burnt refugees have been transferred to hospitals in…

Rumors continue to circulate among refugees about the closing of the U.S. resettlement program. In an effort to get its message to refugees about the issue, the International Rescue Committee’s Resettlement Support Center has issued document with 20 key questions and answers. Karen News has reprinted it in full. FAQ / Key Messages for Beneficiaries Regarding Deadline for Expression of…

Civil society groups voiced their disappointment that the government ministers appointed to its Peace Committee failed to address many of the questions that representatives from 64 community-based-organisations brought to a meeting held at the Myanmar Peace Centre on Sunday. Nan Thandar Aung, a representative from the Karen Women Action Group (KWAG) who was at the meeting, spoke to Karen News.…

The US has announced its resettlement program for refugees from Burma is to stop in June this year. The US Ambassador to Thailand, David Robinson visited Mae Lae refugee camp on Friday and told refugees that his country’s resettlement program for refugees from Burma will stop on June 5, 2013. Saw Tha Kae, vice chairperson of the Mae La Camp…

Senior Thai officials, including the Minister of Interior, visited Mae La refugee camp in Tha Song Yang district of Tak Province to assess the situation of refugees on Thursday, January 13. Thailand’s Interior Minister, Jarupong Ruangsuwan, together with the Tak Governor and Tha Song Yang district officials made a short visit to Mae La refugee camp and met with the…

As many as 4,000 Kachin refugees who are taking refuge in the remote area of Mai Jar Yan area on the Sino-Burma border are now facing severe food shortage problems. The area is under the the control of the Kachin Independent Army 3rd Brigade, but is under heavy attack from the government’s airforce and army. Moon Nay Li, coordinator of…

Residents in Laiza Town in Kachin State are building bomb shelters in an attempt to stay protect themselves from the Burma military’s bombardment. Laiza Town is headquarters of the Kachin Independent Army and is severely under attack from government troops. Salan Kapa Doi Pisa, an official with the Kachin Independent Organization, said that on the morning of December 28th, between…

The Burma Partnership (BP), a community based advocate organisation called on the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugee to consult and to involve refugees in the process of repatriation. Burma Partnership released a video that shows the lack of consultation and involvement of community groups and refugees in the repatriation process. Constant rumors of repatriation of refugees from Burma who…

Two men from Mae La refugee camp were shot dead in mysterious circumstances last week. The two men were from Mae La refugee camp in Tak Province on the Thai-Burma border. Both men were found dead on November 7 outside the camp. The men had been traveling between the Thai villages of Nya Mu Klo and Htee Maw Hta, about…

The Palaung Women’s Organization have estimated that several thousand Palaung villagers from northern Shan state have been displaced in the protracted conflict between the Burma Army and local ethnic armed militia since early 2011 to now. A report ‘The Burden of War’, released in early November by the PWO’s report claims thousands of civilians from 15 villages, are hiding in…