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A worrying humanitarian situation

The history of Myanmar, since its independence in 1947, is dominated by civil war between the central government and numerous armed opposition groups. The longest-running of these conflicts continues to oppose the Burmese dictatorship and the Karen minority, who are fighting for self-determination. In 1984, a massive strike by the Burmese army broke through the lines of the Karen National Union, causing the first arrivals of refugees in Thailand.

Since Mae La refugee camp (near the Burmese border) opened in 1984, the number of refugees has considerably increased. During an assessment carried out by SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL, it was observed that the camp population had reached 50,000 refugees, causing high population density and crowding within the camp. Some refugees have lived like this for over 20 years, others were even born here and do not know any other way of life.

As time goes by, sanitary conditions have grown worse and worse, and no organisation has been nominated to manage these hygiene problems. Today, this situation places the survival of this camp in jeopardy. Epidemics break out frequently. Over the last four years, cholera, dengue fever and typhoid have developed within the camp, and there is a major risk that these diseases may spread beyond it.

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL is therefore working to improve health conditions for refugees in Mae La camp and in host villages in the area around the Mae Ork Pha Roo river, by implementing drinking water access and sanitation projects, as well as protecting and developing water resources.

In early June 2009, renewed fighting between the Burmese national army and Karen rebels has caused a new influx of refugees along the Burmese border, around 40km from Mae La camp, and there are fears that there will be another humanitarian crisis.

Today, they are between 110 000 and 150 000 refugees, displaced people, (legal and illegal). For the Thaï Government, this situation is hard to manage because they can't continue to welcome so many refugees but they cannot neither force them to go back to a country in war.

Updated: August 2011