Commissioner Georgieva travelled to Thailand for a two-day visit to review European humanitarian assistance to refugees from Myanmar and to discuss with the refugees, partner organisations and the Thai authorities the prospect of sustainable solutions for one of the world's protracted humanitarian crises. The trip included a visit to Mae La, one of the nine refugee camps in Thailand, close to the border with Myanmar. Commissioner Georgieva met with the NGOs providing relief in the camps, and held talks with Prime Minister Abhisit and Foreign Minister Kasit. With the Royal Thai Government the Commissioner discussed ways to improve the refugees' situation: through re-starting the screening of the camp population with UNHCR assistance, and through the provision of skills training for refugees outside the camps. The Commissioner underlined the need to determine the status of camp residents and to give them an opportunity to sustain their own livelihood.

Commissioner Georgieva also discussed with the Thai Government the possibility of cooperation on disaster preparedness and management. The Thai authorities made some concrete proposals for joint disaster risk reduction and for establishing a base for the provision of emergency food supplies to the region.