Alliance for Burmese Refugees Calls for Emergency Fund

By SAW YAN NAING Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The Burma Border Consortium, an alliance of non-governmental organizations, has appealed for an emergency fund—an additional US $7.5 million (237 million baht)—to provide food to the refugees on the Thailand-Burma border.

Following the recent increase in rice prices, the alliance has asked worldwide donors to provide extra funds on top of its US $16 million annual budget to provide food supplies to refugees living in nine camps along the border.
Sally Thompson, the TBBC deputy director, told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday, “The rice price has gone up over 100 percent since January adding $7.5 million to our cost of food for refugees. So, if we are unable to find additional funding, then we will have no option but to reduce the food basket to refugees.”

According to TBBC figures, there are an estimated 145,000 Burmese refugees living in the nine camps along the Thailand-Burma border.

Due to the fall in US currency exchange rates, the TBBC has already cut some donations to refugees, including mosquito nets and camp building materials, she said.

Thompson said the TBBC has received an additional 800,000 Euros (US $1.2 million) from the Netherlands and Ireland so far.

Some reports have suggested that the budget restrictions may require the refugees to help provide for their needs. Thai authorities may have to consider allowing refugees to work outside the camps for their survival, Thompson said.

She said the TBBC negotiated with the Thai government in 2005 in order to increase opportunities for refugees in the camps, such as allowing them to seek outside jobs as well as allowing greater outside educational opportunities for youth in the camps.

However, Thompson said the Thai policy of not allow refugees to work outside the camps remains the same.

Meanwhile, Robert Htwe, the chairman of the Karen Refugee Committee, said, “People who are registered in the camp have had no problems with food until now. But, newcomers who haven’t registered don’t receive food supplies.” He said no new refugees are being admitted to the camps.

The majority of refugees along the Thailand-Burma border are ethnic Karen and Karenni, followed by Chin, Kachin, Mon, Burmese and Muslims.

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