How many burmese refugees are in thailand

The TRG serves as the overall authority for the camps, implementing refugee policies and providing border patrol. Camp members elect committee members and all refugees over the age of 20, regardless of registration status, are eligible to vote. Most refugee camps are in mountainous regions with limited access to electricity, phones and healthcare services. These areas are also susceptible to flash floods during the rainy season. Overcrowding is rampant, with houses primarily built out of bamboo and wood, leading to a high fire risk.

In , a fire in the Ban Mai Nai Soi refugee camp damaged homes and five community buildings. Fortunately, there were no casualties and several nonprofits and the UNHCR pooled together to begin rebuilding within a month. The KRC and World Education are two of the leading nonprofits supporting education opportunities for refugees. Schools are primarily located in the largest refugee camp, Mae La.

There are currently more than 2, students who come from other camps and live in boarding houses in Mae La while completing their secondary education. Resettlement to third countries began in , and since then more than 80, refugees have resettled. Share this page:. Who is doing what in the SE? Top 10 townships of origin - Mae La document Download View Top 10 townships of origin - Umpiem document Download View Top 10 townships of origin - Nu Po document Download View Top 5 townships of origin - Tham Hin document Download View Key messages for the Myanmar Census document Download View View all The information will be up-to-date and accurate, of a non-political and impartial nature concerning the socio-economic, human development and humanitarian activities taking place in southeast Myanmar.

View more. Burmese refugees in Thailand. Access to these camps is regulated by the Thai government. As of January , 77, Burmese refugees were registered as having been admitted to the nine camps.

Since , the registration and admission system in the camps has not been fully functional, and approximately 46, camp residents are estimated to be unregistered. Unregistered camp residents are ineligible for resettlement. Most camp residents are ethnic Karen who fled conflict with the military regime in Burma.

Following national elections in Burma in November , new clashes between armed ethnically affiliated groups and the Burmese army erupted along the Thai-Burma border, leading to the rapid arrival of a further 16,, refugees from Burma. While recent ceasefire agreements between ethnic armed groups and the Burmese government have presented some limited possibilities for a resolution to these conflicts, it is not clear when - or even if - the situation will improve. Many Karen refugees are subsequently reluctant to take up voluntary repatriation at the current time, and it therefore remains limited as a durable solution in this context.

Thailand is not a signatory to the Convention and has no national legislation governing the treatment of refugees. Burmese nationals, found living outside of the camps, are subject to arrest, detention and deportation. The basic rights of refugees in Thailand are severely limited - they have no access to medical services and they do not have the right to work — meaning local integration is impossible.

To date, resettlement has been the only durable solution that offers adequate protection for Burmese refugees in Thailand.