Interview with Frank Lavigne
Frank Lavigne, head of mission in Thailand
since May 2007, tells us about SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL' action in this country,
and the challenges facing the team today. Interview.
Which projects have been carried out by SOLIDARITÉS
since your arrival?
We have completed our programme to improve sanitary conditions
for refugees in Mae La camp, which we commenced in May 2007:
We have built 460 latrines in homes and schools, laid 420 metres
of drains to drain away stagnant water, and set up water monitoring
to prevent epidemics or control an epidemic if one should break
out.
We have also implemented hygiene promotion activities regarding
sanitation, which targeted the needs of new arrivals in the camp
(one-third of the camp population has been renewed since SOLIDARITÉS
arrived, due to relocation in other countries).
What is the humanitarian situation of the populations living
in Mae La camp, and how is SOLIDARITÉS responding
to their needs?
Population density in Mae La camp is higher than in Bangkok, in
other words 16,000 to 18,800 people per square kilometre!
We have therefore reached a critical population level, and this
degree of crowding causes epidemics which it is difficult to prevent,
as well as too much pressure on the surrounding environment: pollution,
excessive usage of natural resources which causes severe deterioration
of living conditions for neighbouring villagers, which in turn causes
conflict between Burmese refugees and host communities.
We have therefore set up another programme including host communities
along the watershed of the Mae Ork Pha Roo river, where the Mae
La camp is situated. This programme aims to protect and rehabilitate
natural resources, especially water sources.
We are also extending our activities regarding sanitation, optimisation
of water usage and distribution, and epidemic prevention.
Have you seen the impact of our action?
Certain epidemics did not spread due to the projects we have implemented.
However, due to high mobility among the inhabitants of the Mae La
camp, some diseases come from the outside, and crowding means that
these diseases spread quickly: needs are greater than was originally
foreseen.
The status of refugees and the way in which camps are run need to
be reformed. Work has already started throughout all the refugee
camps in Thailand, in order to increase perspectives for refugee
populations in terms of integration and lesser dependence on humanitarian
aid.
Updated: June 2009
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