Thailand
Since the early 1980s, Thailand has experienced a humanitarian crisis which has spilled over from neighbouring Burma/Myanmar into its western provinces as thousands have fled from a conflict across the border. This has presented Thailand with new challenges, and has lead to the provision of international humanitarian support.
Since 1995 the European Commission, through its Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), has been one of the major donors assisting more than 130.000 people living in camps on the Thai-Burmese border. Since the beginning of the crisis ECHO has provided some €103 million in humanitarian aid to these refugees.
Meeting Humanitarian Needs
Since the early 1990s, the Myanmar government has signed ceasefire agreements with a number of groups engaged in a low-intensity armed conflict with the central government. However, insecurity remains a major problem and hundreds of thousands have been displaced and many have fled across the border into Thailand to escape from the conflict.
In 2011, ECHO continues its long-standing commitment to cover some of the basic needs of the refugees by providing a further €8 million for food aid, health assistance, clean water and sanitation in six out of the nine camps. The funding is channelled through a number of international NGOs.
Stories from the field
- Blog: Bangkok's floods: Getting behind the façade (2011)
- Away from home - in Thailand (2010)
- Refugees in Thailand: Another 25 years in limbo? (2010)
Related information
- Factsheet Thailand
(01.2012) - Blog: Thailand: Refugees from Burma/Myanmar face an uncertain but hopefully better future
- Press releases
- Contact: Regional offices
- Responsible unit
- Humanitarian Aid in Thailand (June 2011)
- Photo essay by IRC: A generation of Burmese refugees in Thailand
Other EU websites about Thailand:
