Refugee Camps in Thailand
According to the 1951 Geneva Convention a refugee is someone who, "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country."
Living in a refugee camp in northern Thailand has been part of the experience of many of the Karenni who have been resettled in the US and other countries. As of early 2014 the Karenni were one of several ethnic groups among approximately 130,000 refugees living inside the Thai border. Some of the camps have existed for as long as 20 years. People typically live in homes of bamboo, thatch, and eucalyptus because more permanent structures are prohibited by the Thai government.
Education and medical services are available in the camps. In addition, Karenni groups have established numerous projects and grassroots organizations, at times these are NGOs with international alliances. Some camp residents focus on acquiring knowledge and skills that will facilitate their reintegration into Karenni State at a future date.
People who recently arrived in the camps from Karenni State are sometimes called "new arrivals." They often traveled through dangerous conditions to reached the Thailand camps. For short interviews with new arrivals done in 2000 see the tab to the right of "Refugee Camps in Thailand."
The picture above shows students celebrating a Karenni national holiday. The drawings below, done by Karenni children around 2001, depict daily life in the camps.
Living in a refugee camp in northern Thailand has been part of the experience of many of the Karenni who have been resettled in the US and other countries. As of early 2014 the Karenni were one of several ethnic groups among approximately 130,000 refugees living inside the Thai border. Some of the camps have existed for as long as 20 years. People typically live in homes of bamboo, thatch, and eucalyptus because more permanent structures are prohibited by the Thai government.
Education and medical services are available in the camps. In addition, Karenni groups have established numerous projects and grassroots organizations, at times these are NGOs with international alliances. Some camp residents focus on acquiring knowledge and skills that will facilitate their reintegration into Karenni State at a future date.
People who recently arrived in the camps from Karenni State are sometimes called "new arrivals." They often traveled through dangerous conditions to reached the Thailand camps. For short interviews with new arrivals done in 2000 see the tab to the right of "Refugee Camps in Thailand."
The picture above shows students celebrating a Karenni national holiday. The drawings below, done by Karenni children around 2001, depict daily life in the camps.
Camp 1 Grade 9, 2009 (Thailand)