BANGKOK — A recent 90-day halt on foreign aid programs declared by U.S. President Donald Trump has significantly impacted the assistance provided to refugees from Myanmar, particularly those residing in camps in Thailand. Activists and Thai officials have reported that this freeze has resulted in a cessation of hospital services in these camps, which host over 100,000 individuals from the conflict-affected region.
Approximately 106,000 long-term refugees are currently housed in nine camps located along Thailand’s western border with Myanmar. The Border Consortium, a key organization managing support for these individuals, indicated that the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration has historically been its main funding source, accounting for 69% of its financial backing in a mid-year report from the previous year.
The majority of the camp’s inhabitants are from the Karen ethnic group, a community that has faced ongoing conflict in eastern Myanmar as they seek greater autonomy from the country’s central government. The fighting saw a notable increase after the military coup in February 2021, which resulted in a power struggle with the ousted government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, prompting a surge in refugees crossing into Thailand for safety.
A report from Karen News, an online outlet dedicated to the Karen community, noted that the suspension of many aid programs was triggered by a directive issued by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last Friday, which paused nearly all existing and prospective foreign aid initiatives.
Following Rubio’s announcement, he reportedly consented to provide temporary funding for crucial humanitarian efforts that deliver essential medical services, medicines, food, and shelter to those in need. However, it remains unclear which specific programs, if any, will benefit refugees from Myanmar during this period.
According to Karen News, representatives from various NGOs have confirmed that all aid organizations dependent on U.S. funding have been affected by these changes. An anonymous source from an NGO based in the Tak province of Thailand highlighted that educational services, healthcare, and support systems for those displaced by war have faced suspension.
In addition, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), based in New York and responsible for providing medical services at the border camps, announced that it halted operations as of Monday, although it has not publicly addressed the situation.
Thai authorities have acknowledged the crisis and are committed to ensuring that critically ill refugees are treated in local hospitals. Chucheep Pongchai, the governor of Tak province, revealed plans to transfer 14 patients in severe condition to the Tha Song Yang hospital.
Furthermore, the Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, stated that the National Health Security Office is prepared to allocate funding to assist foreign individuals who are unable to fend for themselves. He emphasized that irrespective of shifts in U.S. policy, the Thai government is determined to prevent any loss of life among refugees within its borders.
The Jesuit Refugee Service, an Italian-based charity, announced that it had also ceased its Urban Refugee Program, which offered support to refugees living outside of camps, including in Bangkok. They cited the suspension of funding from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration as the cause, resulting in an inability to accept referrals or register new clients while current services for existing clients were also halted.
