Facts & figures
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€109.5 million humanitarian aid to assist Burmese refugees on the Thai-Burma border (1995-2011).
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€2.61 million in response to natural disasters, including floods in 2011 and 2010 and tsunami in 2004
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ECHO, together with the international community and the Thai government endeavour to jointly identify more durable solutions for the refugees by assisting them to expand their self-reliance.
ASSISTING BURMESE REFUGEES IN THAILAND
For over twentyfive years, thousands of people have fled from armed fighting in Burma/Myanmar, crossing the border into Thailand. Since 1995, the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) has been one of the major donors assisting the refugees and internally displaced people on the Thai-Burma border.
Some 145,000 Burmese refugees are living in nine camps spread along the Thai border. Many have lived in these camps for more than 20 years, and a whole new generation has grown up knowing nothing but the life inside a refugee camp. The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) has been providing assistance to Burmese refugees in Thailand since 1995, funding mainly food aid, health care and the provision of clean water and sanitation. In 2012, €6.5 million has been provided to support the refugees bringing the total funding since 1995 to some €109.5 million.
Implementing partners include the Thai Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), Premiere Urgence - Aide Medicale Internationale (PU-AMI), Malteser International, ZOA and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR). Rice is provided to more than 65,000 refugees in three camps. 100,000 refugees also have access to basic medical services funded by ECHO in five camps, including immunization and mother and child care programmes. Health workers in the camps receive additional training. The UNHCR and a consortia led by Save the Children is also providing livelihood and protection services in all the camps.