Thai-Burma border update

An estimated 38 million people are living with HIV globally. Half a million of those are in Thailand and a further 200,000 in Burma. Yet HIV is treated with harsh stigma in the two countries, where people suffer discrimination, are abused – some kill themselves. People from Burma and Thailand who had HIV spoke to Karen News of how they…

The Mae Tao Clinic on the Thai Burma that provides free healthcare to migrant workers and people from Burma, claims it seen a fall in the number of patients because of a lack in freedom of travel since the Thai military coup of May 22. The head of the in-patients registration department, Ko Aung Myo, said the average rate of…

Migrant workers from Burma are finding that life has just become much more complicated following Thailand’s military coup on May 22, with the military closing border crossings and a nationwide curfew disrupting their travel. Saw Ye Tun Zaw, a migrant worker in Bangkok, said that the curfew made getting home from work difficult and risky. “There are more restrictions on…

Today marked World Malaria Day, and while the global community celebrated significant declines in moratlity rates from malaria since 2000, a new drug-resistant form of the parasite has one leading expert warning of a potential health disaster. In the last ten years, the fight against malaria has seen dramatic decreases in deaths. A concerted effort across the world to combat…

Thick haze has blanketed the Thai-Burma border district of Mae Sot with local residents claiming it is the worst in living memory. Thick smoke made highways dangerous, caused airline flights in and out of Mae Sot to be cancelled forcing visitors into taking lengthy bus trips. Dense smoke swallowed heavily laden timber trucks as they drove down the Asia Highway…

By Karen News Mae La Refugee Camp officials confirmed that a fire that tore through Zone C of Mae La Refugee camp destroyed as many as 120 houses. Camp officials confirmed to karen News that the fire broke out at around 1.30pm of Friday 27 December. Naw Blooming Night Zan, a spokesperson for the Karen Refugee Committee told Karen News…

A fire has destroyed an estimated 102 buildings in Mae La Refugee Camp, 57km north of the Thai town of Mae Sot. Camp officials say the fire broke out in Zone C at the Mae La Refugee Camp today at 1.30pm and lasted until around 3pm. Naw Day Day Poe, joint secretary of Mae La’s camp committee confirmed to Karen…

Burma’s government in a move to speed up trade and tourism between Thailand, announced yesterday, August 28, that it would allow foreigners holding its visa’s to travel into the country by any of the four entry points. The four border gates are between Myawaddy-Mae Sot, Tachileik-Mae Sai, Kawthaung-Ranong and Htee Khee-Sunaron. Speaking at the ceremony held to mark the opening…

The Kawkareik to Myawaddy road, a major trading route between Burma and Thailand, is still blocked by landslides caused by the recent heavy rains. The road crosses the Dawna Ranges has been blocked since July 28 and has yet to be cleared of the debris from the flooding and landslides. Speaking to Karen News, the traffic police officer in charge…

Myawaddy Town residents claim that at least 32 people died in floods last week when four days of heavy rains caused the Moei River to breech its banks. The floodwaters swamped the Thai border town of Mae Sot and the Burma border town of Myawaddy. Government official figures put the flood related deaths at three, a Myawaddy resident, who asked…