US will continue to aid Burmese refugees: ambassador
By SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
The United States will continue its assistance to refugees from Burma, both for those who wanted to resettle in the US or to return home, US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney said yesterday.
The US would take some 10,000 refugees in Thailand for its resettlement programme this year and would continue assistance for those being sheltered in refugee camps until they have somewhere to go, she said.
Kenney visited a refugee camp in Ratchaburi province's Ban Tham Hin yesterday to see their living conditions and consulted with international humanitarian workers who are providing assistance for them in the camp.
Ban Tham Hin has been a long-time shelter for some 7,500-8,000 refugees from Burma. The camp is crowded due to limited space. Thai authorities cannot expand the camp area as it is surrounded by privately owned land and villages.
Thailand is sheltering some 100,000 refugees, who have fled from the conflict in Burma over the past two decades, in nine camps in four border provinces including Ratchaburi.
Conditions in their home country are very bad and they must give up everything to flee to the refugee camps. They are looked after by the international community and by Thailand, she said.
Life is the same every day. They get food distribution once a month but cannot go out of the camp to work. "They are safe but it is not a permanent lifestyle," Kenney said.
Some are eligible and willing to resettle in third countries, including the US and Australia. The US has already taken 60,000 over the past five years, she said.
"Of many refugees I talked to, the vast majority want to go home," she said.
Thailand has a plan to repatriate them home but Ambassador Kenney said Thai authorities have assured her many times the repatriation would be conducted on a voluntary basis only. "They have to go safely and with dignity," she said.
Such a return requires much work and guarantees from Burmese authorities, she said, noting that a political solution to make peace and reconciliation in the country is the first thing to be achieved.
A lot of humanitarian work, such as landmine clearance and construction of infrastructure, must be also done for them before their return. Even if a political solution was reached, they needed school and healthcare facilities, she said.
So far, there have been no signs from Burma guaranteeing the refugees could return home safely with dignity, she said.
The US would take some 10,000 refugees in Thailand for its resettlement programme this year and would continue assistance for those being sheltered in refugee camps until they have somewhere to go, she said.
Kenney visited a refugee camp in Ratchaburi province's Ban Tham Hin yesterday to see their living conditions and consulted with international humanitarian workers who are providing assistance for them in the camp.
Ban Tham Hin has been a long-time shelter for some 7,500-8,000 refugees from Burma. The camp is crowded due to limited space. Thai authorities cannot expand the camp area as it is surrounded by privately owned land and villages.
Thailand is sheltering some 100,000 refugees, who have fled from the conflict in Burma over the past two decades, in nine camps in four border provinces including Ratchaburi.
Conditions in their home country are very bad and they must give up everything to flee to the refugee camps. They are looked after by the international community and by Thailand, she said.
Life is the same every day. They get food distribution once a month but cannot go out of the camp to work. "They are safe but it is not a permanent lifestyle," Kenney said.
Some are eligible and willing to resettle in third countries, including the US and Australia. The US has already taken 60,000 over the past five years, she said.
"Of many refugees I talked to, the vast majority want to go home," she said.
Thailand has a plan to repatriate them home but Ambassador Kenney said Thai authorities have assured her many times the repatriation would be conducted on a voluntary basis only. "They have to go safely and with dignity," she said.
Such a return requires much work and guarantees from Burmese authorities, she said, noting that a political solution to make peace and reconciliation in the country is the first thing to be achieved.
A lot of humanitarian work, such as landmine clearance and construction of infrastructure, must be also done for them before their return. Even if a political solution was reached, they needed school and healthcare facilities, she said.
So far, there have been no signs from Burma guaranteeing the refugees could return home safely with dignity, she said.
Credit : THE NATION,Ratchaburi
