Malaysia to crackdown on illegal immigrants, including Myanmar nationals

Malaysian authorities conducts a special operation inKuala Lumpur (Photo-Myo Nyunt)

Malaysian authorities are going to launch a three-month special operation on Sunday to arrest and deport an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants, according to The Star newspaper.

“We have given them more than a year to take up the offer [to register under Malaysia's Illegal Immigrant Comprehensive Settlement Programme]. It is now time for full enforcement," Mr Datuk Alias Ahmad, immigration director-general, told The Star.

He added that the majority of the targets were Indonesians who would be deported from the Pasir Gudang Port in Johor. However, the Bangladeshis, Vietnamese, Nepalese and Myanmar nationals are also among the illegal immigrants.

An estimated 700,000 Myanmar workers are staying in Malaysia and many of them are illegal immigrants.

"They knew about the operation as the [Malaysian] authorities have officially announced it. It will start on September 1, and they will target the suspected areas first," said Thiha Maung Maung, who is helping Myanmar illegal immigrants in Malaysia return home, told The Daily Eleven.

Regarding with any plan for Myanmar illegal immigrants who could be caught under the operation, Myanmar embassy in Kuala Lumpur was contacted but no reply was made.

The operation will involve over a hundred of thousands personnel from the Malaysian immigration department, police, armed forces, civil defence, national registration department and the local councils. The immigration department will lead the operation.

They will conduct raids mainly in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang and Johor which have been identified main areas for illegal immigrants, The Star reported on Wednesday.

Once arrested, the illegal immigrants will be deported immediately as Malaysian Immigration Department does not want to overcrowd its 12 detention centres, according to the report.

Mr Ahmad said Malaysia immigration department would seek cooperation of foreign embassies to issue travelling documents for those detained to speed up their deportation.

Employers found hiring the illegal are also to be charged under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Amendment 2010). They could be subject to severe fines and prison sentences, according to Mr Ahmed.

Japan to aid Thai clinic for Myanmar refugees

Jiji Press

BANGKOK (Jiji Press)—Japan has signed an agreement to provide 2,994,500 baht in grant aid to a Thai clinic for Myanmar refugees.



The money will be used to help relocate the clinic in the northern Thai town of Mae Sot, as its aging building has raised concerns over in-hospital infections.

The signing took place Friday in Bangkok between Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Shigekazu Sato and Cynthia Maung, the doctor who serves as director of the Mae Tao Clinic.

Cynthia, who is a member of Myanmar’s Karen ethnic minority, founded the clinic with friends in 1989.

Run by donations from supporters, the hospital provides free treatment to Myanmar refugees in Thailand who fled persecution in their country, as well as Myanmar people who cannot afford medical care. It treats 150,000 patients annually.

The clinic plans to relocate within the border town with Myanmar and improve its facilities by adding a new blood transfusion room.

The country surrounded with refugee camps is called …

Having suffered the civil war for 60 years, Myanmar has not seen a decrease in the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) or the refugees for half a century. Despite Myanmar government’s efforts to put an end to the sound of gun fire and end the armed conflicts once and for all, frequent bouts of battles with ethnic groups caused the increase in the number of war refugees. Moreover, natural disasters and communal violence have also contributed to the rise in the number of IDPs. Many IDP camps have been established along Myanmar-Thailand border, and in Shan, Kayin, Kachin and Taninthari regions. Refugee camps also emerged in Rakhine region and Meikhtila township due to the communal violence.

The war refugees

For the past ten years, the fighting between the government’s military and Karen National Union (KNU) created thousands of displaced refugees. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), there are over 632,000 IDPs including war refugees in Myanmar. The majority of them are the Karen ethnics from 36 townships in Kayin Region, who had to flee their homes long ago due to the battles in their areas. Although the fighting has subsided now, many uncertainties are ahead of them to return home and to earn living.

These years the number of war refugees is rising because of frequent armed conflicts with ethnic groups, especially in Kachin region. Myanmar Peace Monitor, a watchdog organization looking at the peace process in Myanmar, said in their 2013 report that the fighting between the military and Kachin Independence Army has displaced over 100,000 local people in Kachin State, and resulted in the emergence of new IDP camps both in the control area of Kachin Independence Organization and in that of the government such as Myitkyina and Waimaw townships. Certain news sources put the number of refugees at over 200,000. It is still vague for their return to home.

Similarly, warfare in Shan State gave rise to a number of the refugees in the area. In 2012, the government’s military fought with Taaung National Liberation Army_ the armed ethnic group of Palaung people. It caused an increase in the number of war refugees from over 2000 to 5000. The Palaung refugees are now living at the IDP camps in Mantong, Kutkhine, Tantyan, and Namtkham Townships in Shan State.

In the same year of 2012, the military troops also fought against the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army, Karenni National Progressive Party, Karen National Union and Democratic Karen Benevolent Army. Displaced people from the unrest areas fled towards the refugee camps in southern part of the country. According to the report of Myanmar Peace Monitor, the numbers of displaced people due to battles and other projects are 6700 in Shan State, 700 in Kayah State, 200 in Bago Region, 1600 in Kayin State, 200 in Mon State and 600 in Taninthari Region.

IDPs due to communal violence

Due to the communal violence in Rakhine State last year, the number of IDPs in the region has risen to beyond 180,000 now. According to a UNOCHA report published in 2012, the violence left over 70,000 people displaced during June and 30,000 more during October. New IDP camps popped up in Kyaukphyu, Kyauktaw, Minpya, Mrauk Oo, Myaypon, Pauktaw, Ranbyee, Yathetaung and Sittwe townships.

In March 2013, the religious violence in Meikhtila Township left over 4000 people displaced to 5 new refugee camps there. To say exactly, there are a total of 4204 IDPs, and 656 people are staying at Sasana Rakhita Refugee Camp, 191 at Oakpho Refugee Camp, 895 at District Sports Ground Refugee Camp, 1594 at Central Transport Department’s Refugee Camp, and 868 at Water Resources Department’s Refugee Camp.

Future of the IDPs

If the conflicts are resolved, peace prevails and necessary supports are provided, the displaced people will be relieved and slowly rehabilitated. It is a big challenge to adequately serve their basic needs and to create jobs for them.

A Kayin refugee seen at Maela refugee camp at the Thai-Myanmar border (Photo - Nay Htun Naing)

The future of refugees is still vague and it seems leading towards more uncertainties. The refugees along the Myanmar-Thailand border once possessed big dreams to escape to the third countries. However, when they learnt from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) about the third countries’ limited ability to accept more refugees, their dreams became distant. For them, it is also difficult to return their mother land and earn living because of infrastructural constraints. Besides, they can be exposed to the land-mine risks as the authorities are yet to clear land mines buried on the battle grounds during the war times. Therefore, the refugees who left Myanmar for some years have refused to go back home.

Meanwhile, Thai government, who had accepted Myanmar refugees in their territory, is now willing to deport them back to Myanmar. Nevertheless, UNHCR in Thailand met with the representatives of United Nationalities Federal Council_ an ethnic coalition group from Myanmar_ last July. They discussed the refugee issue, and reached an agreement not to force them to return to Myanmar. Therefore, the IDP camps are still allowed to exist on the Myanmar-Thailand border.

As long as there are armed conflicts, the number of displaced refugees will continue to grow in Myanmar.

Burma refugees strive for self-reliance in Thailand

A Shan refugee student studies in a local community school. Burmese Shan community members embrace the opportunity to educate their children while seeking protection in Thailand. (Jesuit Refugee Service Asia Pacific)


One group of seven women took part in a Jesuit Refugee Service tailoring workshop and have since been hired by a local tailor shop where they make a living. "JRS training opportunities allowed us to learn new business skills," said Ms. Onkham, one of the course graduates who now works in a shop.

(Wieng Haeng, Thailand) August 29, 2013 – More than a decade ago, two Thai Buddhist temples opened their doors to provide sanctuary to 500 Burmese Shan refugees fleeing conflict between the Shan State Army and Burmese military forces in southern Burma. This hospitality was later extended to the refugees by the local authorities of the rural town of Wieng Haeng, which allowed the establishment of Koung Jor in 2002. But with the human rights situation improving in Burma, there is much talk of sending Burmese refugees home.

Despite progress in Shan State, the 2013 Amnesty International report documented a myriad of human rights violations faced by minorities in the country. This is in sharp contrast with the relative security offered to Shan refugees in Koung Jor camp where many have been able to access education services and employment, albeit in the informal labour market, according to camp leader and Shan advocate, 61-year-old Mr. Sai Lemg.

While ceasefires have been signed with eight ethnic opposition groups, including Shan rebels, and the government has agreed to end forced labor and child military recruitment, real change is likely to take years. Meanwhile, Amnesty reported an intensification of armed conflict last year and that many Shan in Burma remain subject to arbitrary arrest, unlawful killings, sexual violence, torture, and destruction of livelihood.

According to Mr. Lemg, control of resources — gold, rubies, sapphires and teak — fueled the violence in Shan State in which the Burmese military engaged in practices such as forced labour, military conscription and rape as a tactics of war. Unfortunately, the lure of huge wealth is still very powerful.

"In ethnic areas like Shan or Karin states, the Burmese (military) are still seizing land from people to sell to foreign companies for activities like tourism."

Mr. Lemg believes that if his community were to return, it is unlikely they would be able to sustain their families.

Over time, many of the 500 Burmese Shan have been able to find ways to provide for their families while living in Koung Jor. This has earned the community a level of acceptance from the host community, which in turn heightens opportunities for self-reliance and community building. This has of course been helped by the fact that nearly all Thai citizens in Wieng Haeng are also ethnic Shan. Similar language, religious and cultural customs as the Burmese Shan has facilitated a degree of integration.

Due to the unofficial nature of Koung Jor camp, as well as a lack of citizenship, voting or employment rights, the Shan refugees have been dependent on NGOs and local communities to start anew in Thailand.

Today, many Burmese Shan are able to make the same wages as Thai workers, an average of 175 Thai baht (5.5 US dollars) per day, working as seasonal farmers in garlic, bean, corn or chili fields.

Jesuit Refugee Service is a member of the Thai Border Consortium (TBC), a network often NGOs established in 2009 to provide emergency relief and healthcare, but which now focusing on helping refugees become self-reliant.

One group of seven women took part in a JRS tailoring workshop and have since been hired by a local tailor shop where they make a living.

"JRS training opportunities allowed us to learn new business skills," said Ms. Onkham, one of the course graduates who now works in a shop.

"Now the refugee women have stable employment in the local community. It's more sustainable than providing aid," said Ms. Chantanee Paoponglertsiri, JRS Project Director in Wieng Haeng.

Since 2006 Thai schools have accepted all minors, irrespective of migration status, said Camp Education Coordinator, Mr. Sai Do.

In Wieng Haeng more than 300 students attend primary and nursery schools supported by JRS. Here, both Burmese Shan refugees and Thai students from the local community learn together.

Unlike other Burmese refugees in Thailand, after the Shan refugee students finish primary school they can apply for travel documents with local administration to continue their studies in Chiang Mai. This opportunity is often more accessible to boys who study while training as a novice monk, but Mr. Lemg encourages parents to also prioritize education for daughters.

"In the past, it wasn't a priority to educate girls, but this is now changing and becoming more important. I try to emphasize that just learning to write isn't enough for the girls, they are eager to learn and need higher education to contribute to their societies and families."

More than ever before, Shan refugee parents value the educational opportunities they have for their children in Thailand which are not available in Shan State, where as few as four percent of children attend school.

"It would be a shame for Shan students to have to leave their schools in Thailand as their education would be halted. The Shan children born in Thailand know more about Thai than Burmese society", said Mr Lemg who advocates in favour of local integration over repatriation.

By Angela Wells, JRS International Communications Assistant

and Dana MacLean, JRS Asia Pacific Communications Officer

Cho Chin Refugee Killed by Arakine Rohingya Man in Malaysia

 Dear Cho Brothers & Sisters,

Our Beloved, Bro. Peter Thang Shing Ling, the beloved son of (U Gei Thang) and Daw Thang Lee, from Phui village, Mindat, Chin state, was knifed to death by a Rakhaing Rohingya guy when he was sleeping on wed, 21.08.2013 at Penang, where he was working place. ...

The body was buried on wed, 28.08.2013 at the cemetery of Immaculate Catholic Church at 11:00 Am, Penang.

My heartfelt thanks to all those who were helping us when the processes was going on to bury upto wed, 28.08.2013. And again give thanks to CYO patarwed, CYO K.L leaders, Ko Hung Mang(chairman), Ko Hung Yom(secretary) and Ko Thang Ki (Coordinator).

And the brothers and sisters those who are far and near who support financially in needs for his funeral service. 

  And give thanks to Pastor Ling Kee (Senior Pastor of MCAM), who has been helping CYO since 2008, and Pastor Than Tun who was helping for the funeral of Bro. Peter Thang Shing Ling who was pass away, and is doing ministry among Myanmar people, Penang.

Thanks to all.

In Christ,

Pastor Ki Aung Thang

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Bangkok conference highlights abuses of Rohingya refugees

 

Being a refugee does not make you a criminal, said Dr. Niran Pitakwatchara, from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

 Pitakwatchara was one of many academics to speak at “The Rohingya: Unwanted and Alone in Thailand” press conference hosted by the Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT) at the Student Christian Centre (SCC) in Bangkok.

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled from persecution in Burma to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia over the past year. They paid smugglers to send them by sea route. Many have been nabbed by Thai authorities and detained in overcrowded temporary holding cells.

“I was concerned that the Rohingya refugees were being deprived of basic rights while under temporary care in Thailand,” Pitakwatchara said.

It’s time for the government to move the displaced refugees to temporary shelters until practical longer-term solutions are found, he said.

"Though Thailand is not a signatory (to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention), relevant ministries could actually expedite their authority in providing decent and appropriate shelters for these people, based on human rights principles in the Thai Constitution… There is adequate religious and community support for the Rohingya while they wait for appropriate durable solutions," Pitakwatchara said.

But “any local communities identified as sites for temporary shelters should be closely consulted before the Rohingya are relocated” he added.

The Thai immigration act allows authorities the discretionary power to move the refugees to a proper place outside of the immigration detention centers. It’s estimated that about 2000 Rohingya are being held in Thailand. At least 86 refugees recently escaped from a holding centre in southern Sadao district, according to police.

Decisions about policies regarding the detainment and treatment of Rohingya refuges need to be decided soon, said Saowanee Khomepatr, director of the Anti-Trafficking in Women and Children division of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. When these refugees are separated from their families for long periods the family may become disheartened. In some cases family members have been lured by gangsters to meet up with their families in Malaysia and Indonesia without knowing their relatives are actually being detained in Thailand.

Many Rohingya have fled their country following last year’s violence where human rights abuses at the hands of state authorities and extremist Rakhines has been reported to be ongoing. Those that have left have included many women and children who are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by the smugglers.

“The Yingluck Shinawatra government had promised not to deport the Rohingya against their will, while the previous Democrat administration allowed them to be quietly pushed back at the border. That is one positive policy development in this year,” said Sunai Phasuk, an advisor for Human Rights Watch.

However clear guidelines in dealing with illegal immigrants still needs to be firmly entrenched within Thai law, said Surapong Kongchuntuk, a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Lawyers Council of Thailand.

“Authorities should communicate and coordinate with Thai society to better accommodate the temporary stay of the Rohingya. The Thai government has prepared a set of policies on illegal immigrants, which include the Rohingya, but the National Security Council has dragged this out without launching specific measures," Kongchuntuk said.

Coastal and inland officials shouldn’t deport or push Rohingya refugees back to sea. Strict punishment needs to be given to trafficking syndicates, in particular the uniformed and civilian officials in their ranks, as a stern warning to the would be smugglers, Kongchuntuk said.

The influx of refugees into the neighboring countries has gone from just being a regional problem to becoming an international problem. In order to address it requires both a regional and international approach. If there is any hope of the Rohingya living a life in line with the universal declaration of human rights it will come from this, said U Maung Kyaw Nu, BRAT president

Rohingyas are not economic migrants. They are refugees compelled to flee their homes from an oppressive regime, he said. They should be categorized as such under the UN Convention of Refugee. The treatment of Rohingya by Thai authorities is clearly in violation of universal human rights. They are in need of protection and provision until a viable solution can be found.

Burma refugees strive for self-reliance in Thailand

One group of seven women took part in a Jesuit Refugee Service tailoring workshop and have since been hired by a local tailor shop where they make a living. "JRS training opportunities allowed us to learn new business skills," said Ms. Onkham, one of the course graduates who now works in a shop.
(Wieng Haeng, Thailand) August 29, 2013 – More than a decade ago, two Thai Buddhist temples opened their doors to provide sanctuary to 500 Burmese Shan refugees fleeing conflict between the Shan State Army and Burmese military forces in southern Burma. This hospitality was later extended to the refugees by the local authorities of the rural town of Wieng Haeng, which allowed the establishment of Koung Jor in 2002. But with the human rights situation improving in Burma, there is much talk of sending Burmese refugees home.

Despite progress in Shan State, the 2013 Amnesty International report documented a myriad of human rights violations faced by minorities in the country. This is in sharp contrast with the relative security offered to Shan refugees in Koung Jor camp where many have been able to access education services and employment, albeit in the informal labour market, according to camp leader and Shan advocate, 61-year-old Mr. Sai Lemg.

While ceasefires have been signed with eight ethnic opposition groups, including Shan rebels, and the government has agreed to end forced labor and child military recruitment, real change is likely to take years. Meanwhile, Amnesty reported an intensification of armed conflict last year and that many Shan in Burma remain subject to arbitrary arrest, unlawful killings, sexual violence, torture, and destruction of livelihood.

According to Mr. Lemg, control of resources — gold, rubies, sapphires and teak — fueled the violence in Shan State in which the Burmese military engaged in practices such as forced labour, military conscription and rape as a tactics of war. Unfortunately, the lure of huge wealth is still very powerful.

"In ethnic areas like Shan or Karin states, the Burmese (military) are still seizing land from people to sell to foreign companies for activities like tourism."

Mr. Lemg believes that if his community were to return, it is unlikely they would be able to sustain their families.

Over time, many of the 500 Burmese Shan have been able to find ways to provide for their families while living in Koung Jor. This has earned the community a level of acceptance from the host community, which in turn heightens opportunities for self-reliance and community building. This has of course been helped by the fact that nearly all Thai citizens in Wieng Haeng are also ethnic Shan. Similar language, religious and cultural customs as the Burmese Shan has facilitated a degree of integration.

Due to the unofficial nature of Koung Jor camp, as well as a lack of citizenship, voting or employment rights, the Shan refugees have been dependent on NGOs and local communities to start anew in Thailand.

Today, many Burmese Shan are able to make the same wages as Thai workers, an average of 175 Thai baht (5.5 US dollars) per day, working as seasonal farmers in garlic, bean, corn or chili fields.

Jesuit Refugee Service is a member of the Thai Border Consortium (TBC), a network often NGOs established in 2009 to provide emergency relief and healthcare, but which now focusing on helping refugees become self-reliant.

One group of seven women took part in a JRS tailoring workshop and have since been hired by a local tailor shop where they make a living.

"JRS training opportunities allowed us to learn new business skills," said Ms. Onkham, one of the course graduates who now works in a shop.

"Now the refugee women have stable employment in the local community. It's more sustainable than providing aid," said Ms. Chantanee Paoponglertsiri, JRS Project Director in Wieng Haeng.

Since 2006 Thai schools have accepted all minors, irrespective of migration status, said Camp Education Coordinator, Mr. Sai Do.

In Wieng Haeng more than 300 students attend primary and nursery schools supported by JRS. Here, both Burmese Shan refugees and Thai students from the local community learn together.

Unlike other Burmese refugees in Thailand, after the Shan refugee students finish primary school they can apply for travel documents with local administration to continue their studies in Chiang Mai. This opportunity is often more accessible to boys who study while training as a novice monk, but Mr. Lemg encourages parents to also prioritize education for daughters.

"In the past, it wasn't a priority to educate girls, but this is now changing and becoming more important. I try to emphasize that just learning to write isn't enough for the girls, they are eager to learn and need higher education to contribute to their societies and families."

More than ever before, Shan refugee parents value the educational opportunities they have for their children in Thailand which are not available in Shan State, where as few as four percent of children attend school.

"It would be a shame for Shan students to have to leave their schools in Thailand as their education would be halted. The Shan children born in Thailand know more about Thai than Burmese society", said Mr Lemg who advocates in favour of local integration over repatriation.

by Angela Wells, JRS International Communications Assistant
and Dana MacLean, JRS Asia Pacific Communications Officer

Dr. Cynthia Maung: How foreign donors can help bring peace to Burma

 

Dr. Cynthia Maung, director of the Mae Tao Clinic and recipient of the 2013 Sydney Peace Prize. Her clinic at the Thai-Burmese border opens its doors to Burmese refugees, migrants and orphans. Photo by: Mae Tao Clinic

By Eliza Villarino

Encouraged by Myanmar’s reform efforts, international donors have begun to shower the Asian country with aid.

 But not everyone appears to be benefiting from the growing interest of foreign investors.

 “Unfortunately, aid donors’ growing focus on Burma is coming at the expense of border-based community groups,” said Dr. Cynthia Maung, who runs a clinic on the Thai-Burmese border catering to Burmese refugees, migrants and orphans. “Everyone thinks that refugees will go home and those who stay will get registered in Thailand. But we know that this won’t happen that easily.”

 Maung is a displaced Burmese herself whose story is worthy of a movie or a novel. On the night of Sept. 21, 1988 — just days after the military seized power — she fled through the jungle for the border alongside 14 other pro-democracy activists. As they moved through remote villages during the weeklong journey, they used limited supplies to treat people suffering from injuries and disease. Five months later, she opened the Mae Tao Clinic.

 Staffed by 700, the clinic provides comprehensive health and child protection services to some 150,000 people per year. For her work, Maung — simply called “mother” by many of those the clinic serves — has received numerous awards, including the Asian version of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Magsaysay Award for community leadership, in 2002. This November, the ethnic Karen medical doctor will officially receive the 2013 Sydney Peace Prize for “her dedication to multiethnic democracy, human rights and the dignity of the poor and dispossessed, and for establishing health services for victims of conflict.”

 In our exclusive interview, obtained with the help of one of the clinic’s senior officers, Yasmin Ahammad, Maung shares her thoughts on the struggles of border communities as donors focus their attention on Yangon and other parts of the country.

 How will increased donor attention on Burma impact your cause?

 We have seen growing displacement in Burma as a result of land confiscation and development projects. More exploitation and rights abuses will push more people to the border. There is also significant economic development on the border, which will attract laborers, many of whom are likely to be undocumented. Our workload will therefore grow, but the uncertainty of our future funding is making it stressful for our staff and the patients who rely on us for our services.

 As donors are moving their funds away from the border, there is a lot of pressure for us [the clinic] to also move inside the country. But there are enough government and community hospitals and clinics in Burma already. They just need more investment and a coordinated health policy that fully takes into account the needs of the community and the challenging context.

 If donors just focus on delivering aid via Yangon to [international nongovernmental organizations] who are directly implementing, they will find it difficult to access the most vulnerable populations. Community-based organizations, many of which have their administrative bases on the border, are best placed to understand the local context and gain the trust of the community. We’ve also seen a lack of coordination and standardized approach when iNGOs directly implement and iNGOs tend to leave areas when their projects are over, which will not lead to sustainable development and community ownership.

 Donors also need to understand the context in which they are working. For example, in health, the system in Burma is highly centralized and top-down. If you only work within this system, the effectiveness and sustainability will be questionable within the community. People in Burma are highly mobile and conflict-affected, whether due to ethnic, religious, resource or land conflicts. Delivering health through this centralized system will not be enough without making a space for CBOs and enabling a multisectoral, rights-based and participatory approach.

 What should the aid community do to help resolve the border conflict peacefully?
 Donors must empower local civil society organizations, not sideline them. It’s only through civil society engagement and participation that communities will start to heal after decades of conflict and oppression. Donors can support civil society by empowering them to report human rights abuses and to help them cope with trauma. There are former soldiers living side-by-side with victims who have been abused by different authorities. To start healing these rifts and move toward peace, civil society must be strong.

 Donors can also help by monitoring population displacement and looking at the impact on health. Armed conflict has still not being resolved in some areas. People are being displaced by infrastructure projects. Yet economic development is being pushed ahead of the political process and education and health policy in the border areas. This can lead to more instability.

 The current flooding crisis could be an opportunity to engage CBOs and build peace strategies. We are also seeing more and more natural disasters in Burma. The U.N. agencies and iNGOs develop contingency plans and discuss disaster preparedness. But when disasters hit, it is always the network of local civil society groups that are first able to access areas. We can see this in the latest flood relief response in eastern Burma, as well as with Cyclone Nargis and populations affected by armed conflicts. We don’t have a good system of preparedness and planning, but we are always first on the ground. But with more disasters as well as religious conflict, we would like stronger policy and coordination.

 From your vantage point, what changes do you see in Myanmar’s development?
 We hope to see stronger partnerships between Yangon-based groups and border-based groups, working toward a common goal. So many people I know and have met over the last two years are very excited about going inside Burma and seeing the change for themselves. As people start to do that more, social networks will develop and people will make better connections. But those connections need to develop into partnerships in order to create real lasting change and deliver effective services.

 The border civil society groups will still have to play a significant role, whether based in Thailand or Burma, as there will always be a population that is moving back and forth across the border. This population needs health, education and protection of human rights. There also needs to be a specific border health policy in Burma, as well as cross-border collaboration. Mae Tao Clinic has built up strong networks in both Thailand and Burma and we hope to continue acting as a bridge between the two countries.

 We are seeing investment coming to the eastern states but with this is coming land confiscation and more human rights abuses. The building of the dams is an example of this.

 The CBOs should be engaged in all steps of these processes and ensure there are positive impacts for the communities. They should be engaged so that the negative impacts are mitigated. The development that is being brought to the communities could enhance their health and welfare through infrastructure development but we are not seeing this flow to the communities rather to neighboring countries or to a certain section of the community. Not all people are benefiting from these changes.

U.S. Answer Refugee Resettlement Questions

Rumors continue to circulate among refugees about the closing of the U.S. resettlement program. In an effort to get its message to refugees about the issue, the International Rescue Committee’s Resettlement Support Center has issued document with 20 key questions and answers. 

FAQ / Key Messages for Beneficiaries Regarding Deadline for Expression of Interest in the U.S. Group Resettlement Program

1. Why is the U.S. closing the group resettlement program for Burmese refugees in the nine camps in Thailand?

After almost seven years of large-scale resettlement and the departure of more than 62,000 Burmese refugees to the United States, the number of eligible Burmese refugees in the camps has been reduced significantly. We are reaching the natural conclusion of the group resettlement program that has specific eligibility criteria for Burmese refugees who were re-registered by UNHCR in 2005 and formally registered by the Government of Thailand. We are setting deadlines for eligible Burmese refugees to apply for resettlement. These deadlines will vary based on when resettlement operations began in each camp. The resettlement program will continue until we have completed the processing of every application received by the deadline for each camp. We realize that not all Burmese who are eligible for resettlement consideration are interested in resettlement. We encourage those who are interested in resettlement to apply by the camp specific deadline.

2. Why is the U.S. closing the program now? Why not wait until it is safe to go back to Burma/Myanmar?

Refugees are not being asked to make a decision about returning to Burma. Instead, the smaller number of refugees who are eligible for U.S. resettlement are being asked to decide if they want to pursue this opportunity. Those who do not exercise this option will be able to remain in the camps until safe and voluntary returns are possible. The announcements will take more than a year and the resettlement program will continue until we have completed the processing of every application received by the deadline for each camp; we expect the resettlement program to continue for at least two years. The U.S. Government is committed to providing assistance to Burmese refugees residing in the camps until durable solutions are found.

3. Does this mean that UNHCR and the U.S. Government believe it is ok to go back to Burma/Myanmar now?

The U.S. Government and UNHCR believe that refugees should only return home by their own choice and in conditions of safety and dignity. We do not believe conditions of safety and dignity have been achieved in Burma/Myanmar yet.

4. My husband/wife/child is unregistered. I don’t want to leave them behind. How can we be resettled together?

If a family is interested in resettlement, but not all family members are registered, they should still express their interest before the deadline. UNHCR and the RSC will work with you to determine resettlement options. Rolling Announcement – Final Public Version – Page 2

5. What if I change my mind after the deadline and want to go to the U.S. later?

This will be the final deadline to express interest in this group program. It is better to express interest now and change your mind later. The U.S. will not be able to consider anyone for the group program after the deadline.

6. If I apply now, how long will it take for me to be resettled?
Every case is different. Expect your case to take at least one year, but many cases take longer. You can help by attending all appointments when called. Missing appointments will result in delays.

7. I am old and afraid that I can’t support myself in America. What assistance will I get in America?

In the U.S., most adults work until they are at least 65 years of age, and refugees are generally expected to do the same unless there are other family members who can support them. There are government assistance programs available to adults 65 years and older who meet the requirements. These may include cash assistance, health insurance, and money to help buy food.

8. I am physically disabled. I am afraid that I won’t be able to work in America. What will happen to me in America if I resettle there?

Refugees with disabilities often have more options in the U.S. than they have ever had before. It is against the law for any employer, hospital, school, or government agency to discriminate against someone because they have a disability. In a job, accommodations are often made so that a person with a disability is able to work.
For those with severe disabilities that may prevent work, there are various types of government assistance available. The specific requirements and amounts of assistance can vary from location to location.

9. I am 16 years old but my parents don’t want to resettle. Can you help me go to America?

You must be at least 18 years of age by the deadline to resettle without your parents. Your age will be determined by the age on your registration document. Once you turn 18, see UNHCR to find out what options are available to you.

10. My husband/wife does not want to go, but I do. Can I be resettled? Can my husband/wife come later?

This is a very difficult situation and each family must decide what is best for them. In most cases, you can resettle without your spouse but there is a risk you could be permanently separated. You and your spouse should talk to UNHCR or RSC so you can be counseled about your specific circumstances, the risk of separation and whether or not your spouse can to follow you to the U.S. in the future. Rolling Announcement – Final Public Version – Page 3

11. I am already in the process for U.S. resettlement; do I need to do something now?

No, if you have received confirmation that your application was received by the U.S. Government for processing, no action is required. If you have not had any contact with RSC over the last six months or are uncertain about the status of your case, you can always check with UNHCR or RSC to re-confirm your interest. If your case is on hold, applicants must talk with RSC or UNHCR to determine if further action is needed prior to the deadline.

12. I applied for U.S. resettlement before, but then told RSC I didn’t want to leave right away. Can I still resettle to the U.S.?

If you told RSC you were not ready to resettle or you formally withdrew your application, you must talk to RSC (or UNHCR) as soon as possible and before the deadline to let them know you are still interested. The U.S. will not be able to consider anyone for the group resettlement program after the deadline.

13. My spouse is out of camp until after the deadline, what do I do?

Every family member must be in camp and report to UNHCR to express interest. Please do not have anyone stand in for your missing family member. If you already have an RSC case, one adult case member should report to the RSC.

14. I was rejected by the U.S. but I can’t return to Burma/Myanmar. How can I be resettled?

Please see UNHCR staff to review your case to determine if you should be referred to another country.

15. RSC/UNHCR told me that my case is on hold. Will I be resettled?

Please see the organization that told you your case was on hold (either RSC or UNHCR). They can help you understand why the case is on hold and whether you need to act before the deadline.

16. I am unregistered but I can’t go back to Burma/Myanmar. Can the U.S. Government or UNHCR help me get registered and resettled?

Unregistered refugees are not eligible for this group program or resettlement. This deadline would not apply to you.

17. I don’t want to resettle in the U.S. I want to go to a different country. How can I be resettled to a country other than the United States?

Please see UNHCR staff to review other resettlement options.

18. UNHCR told me that I can’t be resettled because it is not my picture on the household registration document. This was a mistake. How can this be corrected so I can be resettled?

See UNHCR about this matter. Rolling Announcement – Final Public Version – Page 4

19. I applied a long time ago but no one called me for interview. What is happening with my case?
Talk to UNHCR and RSC to find out what is happening with your case. Do it soon so if you have not expressed interest in the U.S. group resettlement program yet, you can do so before the deadline.

20. Can I go to Burma/Myanmar if I resettle in America?

You can go Burma/Myanmar in the future but it is best to wait until you become a U.S. citizen to do so.

Karen Refugees from Myanmar Find a Foothold in North Carolina

Over the past year a democratic wave has swept Myanmar, also known as Burma. The changes have also included talks to end brutal clashes between the government and a rebel group led by the Karen, an ethnic minority. That war has forced hundreds of thousands of ethnic Karen from the country, first to refugee camps, and then on to resettle elsewhere. In the US, it turns out that North Carolina is home to a growing Karen community. Reporter Andrew Parsons has this story about one family finding their foothold there.

On a recent afternoon, Kahdohmoo Juelah’s sketchbooks and paintings were stashed throughout the counseling office at Chapel Hill High School. It’s a tiny, cramped space. But Kahdohmoo, a lean 19-year-old wearing an oversized Chicago Bulls hat, didn’t seem to notice. Nothing compares to the refugee camp in Thailand. His English is still rough, so he lined up three notebooks on the table to make his point.

“This is my friend’s mom, and this is me, this is where my friend live,” he said pointing to each notebook. “So in Thailand, it hard to live. There’s nothing to eat.”

Thailand is a common theme in Kahdohmoo’s art. He spent nearly a decade there, from age two to 12. He and his family had fled their village in Burma. A long war raged on between the government and the Karen ethnic group, to which Kahdohmoo belongs.

There have been steps towards a peace agreement over the past year, but still hundreds of thousands of Karen have been displaced since the fighting began over 60 years ago. Refugees often flee to Thailand first, and then are helped into homes all around the world.

Kahdohmoo’s memories of his time in Thailand were present in his sketches. They included landscapes filled with refugee tents, a hospital, a school and a single tree. He paused before offering a story.

“That girl, she die on this tree. She kill herself with rope,” he said. He said he didn’t know why, she killed herself but that it wasn’t the only time it occurred at the refugee camp.

For about three years, art therapy has helped Kahdohmoo process his journey. And he isn’t alone in Orange County, North Carolina, where about 1,000 Karen refugees now call home. And it’s a community often dealing depression, anxiety or posttraumatic stress. All this keeps therapist Hilary Rubesin busy trekking from school to school around the county.

“Ninety percent of my clients are refugees from Burma,” she said. Rubesin works out of the Art Therapy Institute down the road and is one of the few licensed counselors in the area that is trained in art therapy.

When Kahdohmoo started high school here in 2009, he’d been in the US for almost two years. But his English comprehension was still very. His ESL teacher at Chapel Hill High School, Courtney George said he struggled.

“He seemed very, very angry,” she said. “When I would see him by seventh period, you could see that the day was just wearing on him. And he would either have an outburst or get into an altercation with another student in class or storm off very dramatically.”

Kahdohmoo’s identity is important to him. His notebooks have the initials “BK” and a red and blue rising sun of the Karen flag scattered across them. “B” stands for blood and “K” for Karen. But other Burmese ethnic groups live here, too. So Kahdohmoo might get called

Burmese, which bothers him since there are documented human rights abuses committed by the Burmese again the ethnic Karen.

“I hate when they call us Burmese,” he said. “Burmese people kill a lot of Karen people already.”

His own blood, literally, is also on his mind. When he was a baby in Burma, his mother snuck him from their village, without the Karen army noticing. They went to a government-controlled city. Kahdohmoo need a blood transfusion for his anemia. The blood he got came from a Burmese soldier.

His therapist, Rubesin, has helped convince Kahdohmoo that new blood now runs through his veins. But his mother, Khu Khu Juelah, explained that it still comes up a lot.

“Some of his friends tease him and saying that Kahdohmoo has blood coming from Burmese soldier,” she said through a translator. “That’s why his identity as a Karen is very important.”

On a recent Saturday, Khu Khu was up early cooking while her two youngest children played outside. They live in a Chapel Hill housing project. She usually works night shifts as a cleaner at the University of North Carolina and sleeps in the morning, but the previous day was her day off.

She also takes pride in her Karen identity. She spent the morning preparing a large, traditional Karen meal for some friends coming over later in the day. A mixture of cow stomach and liver simmered on the stove while whole fish sizzled in a skillet outside.

Her life is so different than in Burma. She’s about to buy a new home, away from the projects. But she still remembers trekking to the refugee camp after the Burmese army seized their land. “During our journey, two or three children die on the way,” she said. “Because something wrong with food or not enough food.”

Now, her concerns are different, like how she’ll pay for her kids’ college. But she does worry less about Kahdohmoo. She noted that his art therapy sessions have helped his behavior and he now listens to her more. He also studies and assists after school Karen language classes for younger refugees.

Kahdohmoo has dreams of becoming a US Marine. The Karen rap music that’s always on his iPod talks about being tough, stepping up and being a man – things embodied in the military. But for now, he’s focused on staying in school, graduating, and channeling any anger on to his sketchbook.

Video for Learning about Refugees from Burma

The video features interviews with refugees from Burma, talking about their challenges and accomplishments dealing with learning English, employment, housing and community, rights and responsibilities, and the long process of resettlement. 

Reflection Questions: Learning About Refugees from Burma

1. What experiences from the video stood out to you? What experiences are similar to your own?

2. What were some of the key messages in the video? Why do you think these are key messages for refugees from Burma coming to the U.S.?

3. How are the refugees in the video learning English?

4. A refugee-owned store was featured in the video. Are there similar stores in your community? Why are stores such as this important to the refugee and immigrant populations in your community?

5. What were some of the reasons the refugees in the video gave for coming to the United States? 

Apartment building where refugees live in Kuala Lumpur

Refugees sitting on front porch in Mae La Camp

Refugees carry materials for home repair, Thailand

See related materials below, including the video script and questions for consideration, in English and seven additional translations.

2013 UNHCR country operations profile - Myanmar

Working environment

Myanmar's political environment has been marked by the transition from military rule to a civilian Government in 2011. The change was underpinned by a historic dialogue between President Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy won 43 out of 45 seats in April 2012 by-elections. The United States of America and the European Union have responded by either lifting or suspending most of their economic sanctions.

Though the new Parliament agreed to consider looking into a proposal to draft a new citizenship law and revoke the current Myanmar Citizenship Law, which could improve the status of a large group of residents in Rakhine State and other people without citizenship in the country, the Government's response was a reiteration of current policies. UNHCR foresees a continuing need to assist some 800,000 residents of Rakhine State without citizenship. Members of this group were allowed to vote in the November 2010 elections, using temporary registration cards issued by the Government. However, discussions on replacing the temporary documents with cards denoting more permanent residential status, if not full citizenship, have not yielded results. There has been no improvement in the legal status or living conditions of this particular group in Rakhine State.

Inter-communal violence which erupted in Rakhine State in June 2012 has forced some 75,000 people to flee their homes. UNHCR leads the humanitarian response to this situation in four sectors: protection, shelter, camp coordination and camp management (CCCM) and non-food items (NFIs).

UNHCR will also assist those without citizenship in other parts of Myanmar. In this regard, the first national census in 31 years (to be implemented in 2014) will serve as an important source of information. UNHCR also envisages conducting a survey on statelessness in Myanmar.

In south-eastern Myanmar, UNHCR supports some 239,000 people affected by displacement through protection monitoring and advocacy with the Government for improved access to essential services. In 2012, UNHCR was able to expand its operational area in this region, allowing it to gain access to more than 100,000 individuals in need of assistance and some 2,000 spontaneous returnees from Thailand.

A ceasefire between the Government and the forces of the Kachin Independence Organization broke down in 2011, and hostilities continue. As a result, more than 75,000 people - mostly women and children - have fled their homes and villages. Since September 2011, UNHCR has been leading the emergency response in Kachin in the protection, shelter, CCCM and NFI sectors.

The needs

Lack of citizenship and enjoyment of basic rights, plus restrictive policies and discriminatory practices by local authorities, are the main protection and livelihood problems faced by Muslim residents of Rakhine State. Essential services such as health care, water, sanitation and education are woefully inadequate and in most cases non-existent.

Fostering peaceful coexistence between communities and enhancing the participation of women and girls in decision-making within their communities are priorities for UNHCR in Rakhine State. UNHCR will need to provide the most vulnerable households with NFIs and basic shelter. Advocacy and awareness-raising will aim to reduce statelessness in a large segment of the population.

Provision of basic support, through the four sectors of intervention, to the displaced population in Kachin State remains a key priority for UNHCR. While overall displaced population numbers are expected to remain stable, UNHCR will also continue to closely monitor the potential to support return to their homes of displaced populations in Kachin State, if such opportunities arise.

In the south-east, UNHCR works to improve the coping mechanisms of communities affected by displacement. There is a need for basic services such as health, water and sanitation, as well as NFIs and shelter. Years of conflict have weakened community self-management structures, which need strengthening. Through an expanded presence and new partnerships with local NGOs, UNHCR will monitor this population, raise protection concerns with the authorities and provide legal assistance where necessary. An improved data collection and management system will assist in the latter.

Main objectives and targets for 2013

UNHCR 2013 planning figures for Myanmar
TYPE OF POPULATION	ORIGIN	JAN 2013		DEC 2013
		TOTAL IN COUNTRY	OF WHOM ASSISTED BY UNHCR	TOTAL IN COUNTRY	OF WHOM ASSISTED BY UNHCR
Total		1,616,840	417,000	1,768,640	500,000
Returnees (refugees)	Myanmar	2,000	2,000	50,000	50,000
IDPs	Myanmar	429,200	165,000	450,000	200,000
Stateless people	Stateless	1,185,640	250,000	1,268,640	250,000

Favourable protection environment

Laws to aid people without citizenship are developed or strengthened.

Statelessness is reduced or prevented through advocacy, monitoring and the provision of training to the authorities.

Fair protection processes and documentation

The quality of profiling is improved.

Some 50 per cent of displaced people in operational areas are monitored and their needs and protection concerns assessed.

Security from violence and exploitation

The risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is reduced and the response to it is improved.

Some 80 per cent of reported victims of SGBV receive assistance.

Basic needs and essential services

The supply of potable water is maintained or increased.

At least 20 litres of clean drinking water are provided per person per day among displaced and host communities that can be accessed by UNHCR.

The population has optimal access to education.

Enrolment at the primary level increases to 95 per cent.

The literacy rate rises to 30 per cent.

Up to 60 per cent of children aged 3-5 attend early childhood development classes.

Shelter and infrastructure are established, improved and maintained.

Emergency shelter meets Sphere Standards.

Services for people with specific needs are strengthened.

Assistance is provided to most vulnerable individuals.

The population has an adequate supply of basic and domestic items.

Individuals and families receive relief supporting all areas where UNHCR provides emergency response.

The population benefits from satisfactory sanitation and hygiene.

Women receive sanitary materials in all areas where UNHCR provides an emergency response.

Community empowerment and self-reliance

Community mobilization is strengthened.

At least 50 per cent of community leadership structures comprise women, and community leaders and members receive life-skills and leadership training.

Local communities coexist peacefully.

Tensions between the different communities decrease.

The participation of women and girls in decision-making is increased through the use of inter-ethnic community centres as venues for community leadership training, and literacy and computer classes.

Strategy and activities in 2013

In line with the implementation of the UN Strategic Framework for Myanmar (2012-2015) and its leadership of the national protection working group, UNHCR will address a range of issues relating to statelessness and displacement. It will advocate for the Government to grant citizenship to affected populations, recognize its responsibilities towards communities affected by displacement, and lift restrictive legal and administrative practices.

UNHCR will continue its efforts to enhance and deepen dialogue with the new Government in 2013, while also strengthening partnerships with civil-society groups, academic institutions and local and international NGOs. It will work with these groups to improve conditions for communities affected by displacement, returnees and populations without citizenship.

Protection monitoring, advocacy and capacity building will be complemented by improvements in basic services such as water, sanitation, health and education. Special emphasis will be placed on strengthening community leadership structures, peaceful coexistence between ethnic groups, and the participation of girls and women in decision-making.

Constraints

UNHCR's planned activities in Myanmar are based on the assumption that a constructive dialogue with the authorities and targeted development and infrastructure programmes will create more humanitarian space.

In south-eastern Myanmar, the lack of reliable statistics poses a variety of challenges for UNHCR, as does the remoteness of areas affected by displacement. The thin presence of humanitarian agencies in the region also makes it difficult to reach all those in need of assistance. In Kachin, limited access to all areas hinders implementation of activities as well as access to people of concern.

In Rakhine State, the continuous inter-communal tension and instability seriously hinder access, and limit effective implementation of assistance activities for the internally displaced population as well as the resumption of the 2012 programme in the northern part of Rakhine State.

Organization and implementation

Coordination

Given its lead sectoral responsibilities in three operational areas, UNHCR maintains close relations with UN agencies, NGOs and central and regional authorities. It hosts regular inter-agency meetings in the field and in the capital, and in 2011 established a protection working group in northern Rakhine State.

UNHCR also provides an operational umbrella for several implementing agencies with which it has formal agreements in Myanmar. It participates in the monitoring and reporting mechanism under the UN Security Council Resolution 1612 on Children in Armed Conflict. In the inter-agency response to the Kachin and Rakhine emergencies it serves as the lead agency for the protection, shelter, CCCM and NFI sectors.

Financial information

UNHCR's budget for Myanmar has risen steadily in recent years. Since 2009, UNHCR has allocated additional resources to assist the population without citizenship in northern Rakhine State in five priority sectors that are also supported by the Government. This continued in 2011, with additional funds being allocated for assistance to victims of two natural disasters in Rakhine State.

The budgets also went up in 2011 and 2012, due to increased requirements for displaced people in Kachin and Rakhine States and south-eastern Myanmar. Owing to the new IDP emergencies and the expansion in the area of coverage in the south-east in 2012, the 2013 budget will be revised to address the additional needs.

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2013 Update

2013 UNHCR country operations, Working environment

While Thailand is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the generosity of the Royal Thai Government in hosting refugees and asylum-seekers has spanned several decades. The country currently hosts some 84,900 registered refugees and an estimated 62,000 unregistered asylum-seekers from Myanmar in nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border.

Thailand has been affected by events in neighbouring Myanmar, which saw unprecedented political developments in 2011 and 2012. Negotiations between the Government of Myanmar and ethnic armed groups have resulted in a series of ceasefire agreements that have brought relative calm to south-eastern Myanmar. The cessation of hostilities is significant for Myanmar refugees in Thailand: the vast majority of those registered and living in the Thai camps originate from areas in Myanmar where ceasefires have been announced. While the peace is fragile, it has increased the prospects for voluntary returns to Myanmar.

Admission to the refugee camps in Thailand is governed by Thailand's Provincial Admissions Board, which has not been functional since 2006. However, in 2012 the Thai Government initiated a fast-track procedure that provides access to the Board for unregistered camp residents - if they are immediate family members of registered individuals already resettled or in the process of being so - to facilitate their eventual resettlement and reunion with family members.

UNHCR operates in a challenging environment in Thailand characterized by inadequate protection space for many persons of concern. Thailand is at the centre of ever-larger migratory movements in the region, and hosts an estimated 2 million migrants. Such numbers can lead to a blurring of the distinction between asylum-seekers and those coming predominantly for economic reasons. Refugees and asylum-seekers living outside the camps and in urban areas are regarded as illegal migrants under immigration law and are subject to arrest, detention and/or deportation. The number of people of concern to UNHCR in detention has declined recently, as many individuals have been released on bail with NGO assistance; however, arrests continue.

Although Thailand is not party to either of the statelessness conventions, amendments to the Civil Registration Act in 2008 provide for universal birth registration. This allows for the issuance of birth certificates to all children born in the country, regardless of the status of their parents, and will help prevent statelessness.

Meanwhile, Government data indicates that some 506,200 people were deemed to be without a nationality, or stateless, as of 31 December 2011. UNHCR will coordinate closely with national authorities to update these figures periodically and reflect Thailand's progress in implementing the 2012 Comprehensive Strategy to Address Problems of Irregular Migrants, under which those without nationality would undergo verification and may acquire nationality and/or have their status regularized.

The needs

Refugees from Myanmar in Thailand have been confined to nine closed camps since they began arriving in the 1980s, and this constitutes one of the most protracted displacement situations in the world. The prolonged confinement of these refugees in camps has created many social, psychological and protection concerns. It has also resulted in a dependency among the refugees on assistance.

The recent developments in Myanmar have prompted discussions among refugees and concerned stakeholders about eventual voluntary repatriation. While this presents an opportunity for UNHCR to seek durable solutions other than resettlement, it also brings a number of challenges. There is a need to ensure that repatriation is voluntary, undertaken in safety and dignity, and takes place only when conditions are conducive. Meanwhile, UNHCR will continue to work with concerned stakeholders to ensure that the rights to access asylum and assistance in Thailand are respected.

The introduction of third-country resettlement in 2005 has provided solutions for more than 80,000 individuals. Since 2010, the number of registered Myanmar refugees in the camps has decreased by more than 20,000. Despite this remarkable burden-sharing effort, the camp population has not declined substantially: the number of unregistered people in the camps has grown to an estimated 62,000. In view of the substantial total figures of persons of concern, UNHCR will continue to cooperate closely with the Government in order to find durable solutions for refugees and ensure that asylum-seekers have access to fair and efficient asylum procedures.

UNHCR conducts refugee status determinations (RSD) under its mandate for all urban asylum-seekers - with the exception of those from Myanmar, for whom a camp-based Government-led procedure is in place. There are some 2,100 urban refugees and asylum-seekers of 39 nationalities in Thailand. Fear of arrest due to immigration offences, lack of legal employment, poverty, possible intimidation or exploitation, little or no access to low-cost medical services, and a paucity of regular educational opportunities are some of their main concerns.

To mitigate these concerns, UNHCR makes protection interventions and lobbies for alternatives to detention and improvements in standards of treatment.

UNHCR 2013 planning figures for Thailand 

UNHCR 2013 planning figures for Thailand
TYPE OF POPULATION	ORIGIN	JAN 2013		DEC 2013
		TOTAL IN COUNTRY	OF WHOM ASSISTED BY UNHCR	TOTAL IN COUNTRY	OF WHOM ASSISTED BY UNHCR
Total		655,810	149,350	596,610	90,150
Refugees	Myanmar	85,060	85,060	54,940	54,940
	Various	1,180	1,180	1,200	1,200
Asylum-seekers	Myanmar	11,400	11,140	10,400	10,140
	Various	860	860	760	760
Stateless people	Stateless	506,200	-	506,200	-
Others of concern	Myanmar	51,110	51,110	23,110	23,110

Main objectives and targets for 2013

Favourable protection environment

Access to legal assistance and legal remedies is improved. 

More than 300 people of concern have access to legal services in the nine camps. 

Fair protection processes and documentation

Access to RSD procedures is improved and the efficiency of processing enhanced. 

People who wish to seek asylum and/or those who may have international protection needs have access to status determination procedures. 

Civil-registration and civil-status documentation are strengthened. 

All children in the camps under 12 months of age are issued official birth certificates by the national authorities. 

The identification of stateless individuals is improved. 

The clarification of guidelines for the identification of stateless individuals helps in their accurate identification. 

Security from violence and exploitation

The risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in camps is reduced and the timing and quality of the response to SGBV is improved. 

All known survivors of SGBV receive support. 

Basic needs and essential services

The health and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers in urban areas is improved. 

All refugees and asylum-seekers have access to primary health care. 

Durable solutions

The potential for resettlement is realized. 

All refugees deemed to be in need of resettlement are referred to resettlement countries. 

The potential for voluntary return is realized. 

All persons of concern in the nine camps have access to information on conditions in potential return areas in Myanmar and on basic protection standards regarding voluntary repatriation. 

Strategy and activities in 2013

For Myanmar refugees in camps, UNHCR will promote international protection standards in areas such as access to national justice systems, monitoring of children at risk, and SGBV prevention and response. UNHCR will support State efforts on birth registration and the Provincial Admission Board screening mechanism for Myanmar asylum-seekers.

UNHCR will intensify its engagement with States and donors to find all possible durable solutions and increase protection space. It will prepare for eventual voluntary repatriation, for instance by providing accurate information on conditions in potential areas of return. The offices in Thailand and Myanmar will also work closely together on a strategic approach to Myanmar refugees.

Pending the establishment of a national framework for RSD of non-Myanmar asylum-seekers, UNHCR will register and undertake RSD in urban areas. It will monitor and advocate for the rights and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, and intervene with the authorities where required. UNHCR will enhance advocacy for alternatives to detention and strive to meet the basic needs of asylum-seekers and refugees, including medical care and educational support.

UNHCR will train national authorities and various other stakeholders to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness. It will work to protect stateless persons, assess their needs, and advocate for their rights, including to legal documentation.

Constraints

At the end of 2011, the newly-elected Thai Government had to respond to a flooding emergency that affected 15 of 77 provinces, including industrial areas of Bangkok. The disaster limited the political space for UNHCR to advocate for refugees' rights. In 2013, Thailand's refugee policies will likely continue to be influenced by security concerns and bilateral considerations.

The overall protection environment in Thailand will likely remain uncertain and be marked by limited asylum space, especially for refugees and asylum-seekers in urban areas. It is also assumed that mixed-migration flows of refugees and asylum-seekers moving together with economic migrants will continue. Though UNHCR will continue to advocate for them, there are no indications that opportunities for legal employment and higher education for refugees will be attained in the short-term.

Organization and implementation

Coordination

UNHCR relies on the cooperation and support of its international and local humanitarian partners in order to respond effectively to protection needs in Thailand.

The border operation, which provides for an estimated 150,000 refugees and asylum-seekers from Myanmar, is implemented by some 20 international and local NGOs who cooperate closely with UNHCR and operate largely under the umbrella of the Committee for Coordination of Services to Displaced Persons in Thailand.

Financial information

The budget for the Thailand operation grew steadily in the five years prior to 2011. As of 2012, the budgets for the Thailand country operation and the Thailand regional operation have been separated. The 2013 budget for Thailand is slightly greater than the 2012 budget, primarily because of provisional preparations for voluntary repatriation to Myanmar.

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2013 Update