Karenni Army: U.S. Aid Cuts Impact Refugee Camps, Forces Medical Transfers to Thailand

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Karenni Army (KA), also known as the Red Karen Army, has admitted that recent U.S. budget cuts to NGOs, enacted under President Donald Trump’s second administration, are severely affecting refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. The cuts have left camps struggling to provide medical care, forcing many patients to seek treatment in Thailand.

 

A senior leader of the Karenni Army revealed on 28 January that the budget reduction, particularly to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has impacted organisations such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which supports refugee camps like Ban Nai Soi in Pang Mu Subdistrict, Mueang District, and Ban Mae Surin in Mae Surin Subdistrict, Khun Yuam District, Mae Hong Son Province.

 

With medical services in these camps curtailed, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) has had no choice but to transfer patients to Sirisangwan Hospital in Mae Hong Son for treatment. While this decision may strain Thai medical resources, KNPP leaders have stated that it is unavoidable in order to save lives.

 

Meanwhile, the Free Burma Rangers, a separate organisation that aids civilians and soldiers in Karenni State, remains unaffected by U.S. policy changes as it relies on donations from international supporters. However, severely injured patients who cannot be treated in Myanmar continue to be transferred to hospitals in Thailand.

 

On 27 January 2025, the Karen Refugee Committee at Mae La Camp in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, issued a notice warning that, effective from 28 January 2025, the IRC will cease providing healthcare services. The announcement detailed that critical support for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and patients with chronic or emergency conditions, such as tuberculosis, diabetes, and hypertension, will no longer be available due to the withdrawal of outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) medical staff.

 

The notice also urged camp-based medicine vendors to refrain from price increases and to sell drugs at regular rates. It remains unclear when the IRC’s healthcare services will resume.

 

Thailand currently hosts nine temporary shelters for displaced persons fleeing conflict, accommodating approximately 90,000 refugees, primarily from Myanmar. These camps, overseen by Thailand’s Ministry of Interior, have relied heavily on funding from the U.S. and Western nations since their establishment over 30 years ago.

 

The U.S. policy shift under President Trump’s administration underscores the growing challenges for refugees in these camps, with concerns mounting over their access to essential medical care and other critical support.

 

-- 2025-01-29

 

 

[webfact]

Thailand pledges continued refugee healthcare despite US aid halt
by Bright Choomanee

 

Picture courtesy of Government House

Thailand’s government will maintain healthcare services for refugees following US President Donald Trump’s directive for a 90-day halt on foreign aid, which affects the financial support for refugee healthcare in the country.

 

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin stated yesterday, January 28, that approximately 100,000 refugees reside in nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. He noted that international organisations assist in funding the operational costs of these camps.

“We will have to wait and see if there will be another announcement.”

 

This statement was made after reports from the BBC on January 27 highlighted the difficulties civil society groups encounter in initiating operations in refugee camps due to Trump’s policy announced last week.

A civil society representative in Mae Sot, located in northern Tak province, informed the broadcaster of a letter received on January 25. It indicated that the subsidy would only be paid until January 24, followed by an announcement of an 85-day suspension.

Due to a partial freeze in US funding, a refugee hospital within a camp reportedly had to reduce staff, leading to some patients leaving the hospital because of staff shortages.

 

Sunai Phasuk, an adviser to Human Rights Watch in Thailand, shared a letter on the X platform in Burmese, stating: “Devastating! The Trump administration’s suspension of foreign aid has resulted in the closure of field hospitals in refugee camps.”

Somsak assured that the Thai government is seeking a resolution to the issue. He emphasised, “We cannot abandon or chase them away since they have lived here in the camps for a long time.”

 

When questioned about the source of funds if the US government retracts financial support, Somsak mentioned that such a policy would only be temporary.

 

He acknowledged that while the Public Health Ministry is not the primary agency responsible for refugee care, they must ensure medical treatment for all people. “No matter who they are, we have to take care of them,” he stated.

 

Somsak further explained that the ministry’s focus extends beyond refugee healthcare, addressing issues like illegal entries, including refugees, illegal immigrants, and people awaiting nationality verification, totalling around 700,000 people, reported Bangkok Post.

 

“We cannot just talk about refugees who have been affected by Trump’s policies. All kinds of healthcare and assistance must be provided to other groups of people who live in this country.”

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2025-01-29

 

 

[thesetat]

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Karenni Army (KA), also known as the Red Karen Army, has admitted that recent U.S. budget cuts to NGOs, enacted under President Donald Trump’s second administration, are severely affecting refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. The cuts have left camps struggling to provide medical care, forcing many patients to seek treatment in Thailand.

 

A senior leader of the Karenni Army revealed on 28 January that the budget reduction, particularly to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has impacted organisations such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which supports refugee camps like Ban Nai Soi in Pang Mu Subdistrict, Mueang District, and Ban Mae Surin in Mae Surin Subdistrict, Khun Yuam District, Mae Hong Son Province.

 

 

With medical services in these camps curtailed, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) has had no choice but to transfer patients to Sirisangwan Hospital in Mae Hong Son for treatment. While this decision may strain Thai medical resources, KNPP leaders have stated that it is unavoidable in order to save lives.

 

Meanwhile, the Free Burma Rangers, a separate organisation that aids civilians and soldiers in Karenni State, remains unaffected by U.S. policy changes as it relies on donations from international supporters. However, severely injured patients who cannot be treated in Myanmar continue to be transferred to hospitals in Thailand.

 

On 27 January 2025, the Karen Refugee Committee at Mae La Camp in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, issued a notice warning that, effective from 28 January 2025, the IRC will cease providing healthcare services. The announcement detailed that critical support for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and patients with chronic or emergency conditions, such as tuberculosis, diabetes, and hypertension, will no longer be available due to the withdrawal of outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) medical staff.

 

The notice also urged camp-based medicine vendors to refrain from price increases and to sell drugs at regular rates. It remains unclear when the IRC’s healthcare services will resume.

 

Thailand currently hosts nine temporary shelters for displaced persons fleeing conflict, accommodating approximately 90,000 refugees, primarily from Myanmar. These camps, overseen by Thailand’s Ministry of Interior, have relied heavily on funding from the U.S. and Western nations since their establishment over 30 years ago.

 

The U.S. policy shift under President Trump’s administration underscores the growing challenges for refugees in these camps, with concerns mounting over their access to essential medical care and other critical support.

 

 

-- 2025-01-29

 

 

I am confused. These camps do not get US money every week or every day. How is it affecting them so quickly? I think they are dramatizing and playing the poor us card. Also, they are in Myanmar. Why isn't that country helping? It seems though that being on the border to Thailand that at least the Thais are contributing for this. 

[hotchilli]

I don't think the cuts will have taken affect so quickly, stock piles of medication must be around.

[Captain Flack]

A post only using a selective quote from the OP has been removed.

 

Rule 28. You will not make changes to messages quoted from other members posts, except for purposes of shortening the quoted post. Do not shorten any post in a way that alters the context of the original post. Do not change the formatting of the post you are quoting

[alex8912]

Great time for the " other Western countries " to chip in a little more.  Instead of criticizing the USA which needs $$$ now for domestic issues. 

[cjinchiangrai]

Fortunately this blatant power grab by the felon in chief has been blocked.

[bkk6060]

Thanks Thailand. 

[sungod]

17 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Great time for the " other Western countries " to chip in a little more.  Instead of criticizing the USA which needs $$$ now for domestic issues. 

 

Why other western countries? Why not the rest of the world?

[alex8912]

2 minutes ago, sungod said:

 

Why other western countries? Why not the rest of the world?

I agree. Singapore , China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia should all chip in. Myanmar is in their backyard and their neighbors.  The article ONLY mentions the USA and other Western countries. It seems like so many rich countries do the absolute least or nothing at all but you don't see much media hype about that fact ever. But but but, the USA and I'll throw UK in there too need to spend a little less somewhere on earth and ALL the media loves to post negative things about them.  

[Mike_Hunt]

38 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Fortunately this blatant power grab by the felon in chief has been blocked.

Why does the USA have to fund the entire world? 

[spidermike007]

Cutting off all aid was a cold and heartless thing to do. That lack of sympathy is part of the makeup of the highly deficient leader of the US. Very Trumpian. He will give away trillions to the super rich and American corporations doing business overseas, in the form of tax breaks, yet he cares not one iota for the poor people of the world and refuses relatively small amounts to those who have real needs. 

 

The work of a stingy, and very small man and his misguided policies. 

[mogandave]

If they are on tje Thai border, why should Thailand not take care of then. 

 

All these NGOs need to be made to rely on donations and not taxpayer money.

[novacova]

4 hours ago, thesetat said:

I am confused. These camps do not get US money every week or every day. How is it affecting them so quickly? I think they are dramatizing and playing the poor us card. Also, they are in Myanmar. Why isn't that country helping? It seems though that being on the border to Thailand that at least the Thais are contributing for this. 

 

11 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Karenni Army (KA), also known as the Red Karen Army, has admitted that recent U.S. budget cuts to NGOs, enacted under President Donald Trump’s second administration, are severely affecting refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. The cuts have left camps struggling to provide medical care, forcing many patients to seek treatment in Thailand.

 

A senior leader of the Karenni Army revealed on 28 January that the budget reduction, particularly to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has impacted organisations such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which supports refugee camps like Ban Nai Soi in Pang Mu Subdistrict, Mueang District, and Ban Mae Surin in Mae Surin Subdistrict, Khun Yuam District, Mae Hong Son Province.

 

 

With medical services in these camps curtailed, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) has had no choice but to transfer patients to Sirisangwan Hospital in Mae Hong Son for treatment. While this decision may strain Thai medical resources, KNPP leaders have stated that it is unavoidable in order to save lives.

 

Meanwhile, the Free Burma Rangers, a separate organisation that aids civilians and soldiers in Karenni State, remains unaffected by U.S. policy changes as it relies on donations from international supporters. However, severely injured patients who cannot be treated in Myanmar continue to be transferred to hospitals in Thailand.

 

On 27 January 2025, the Karen Refugee Committee at Mae La Camp in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, issued a notice warning that, effective from 28 January 2025, the IRC will cease providing healthcare services. The announcement detailed that critical support for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and patients with chronic or emergency conditions, such as tuberculosis, diabetes, and hypertension, will no longer be available due to the withdrawal of outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) medical staff.

 

The notice also urged camp-based medicine vendors to refrain from price increases and to sell drugs at regular rates. It remains unclear when the IRC’s healthcare services will resume.

 

Thailand currently hosts nine temporary shelters for displaced persons fleeing conflict, accommodating approximately 90,000 refugees, primarily from Myanmar. These camps, overseen by Thailand’s Ministry of Interior, have relied heavily on funding from the U.S. and Western nations since their establishment over 30 years ago.

 

The U.S. policy shift under President Trump’s administration underscores the growing challenges for refugees in these camps, with concerns mounting over their access to essential medical care and other critical support.

 

 

-- 2025-01-29

 

 

Again, because it’s to prevent wasteful mishandling of funds used by NGO’s.

 

It’s pretty tough for some around here to come to terms with the idea of the new US government wanting accountability and would rather have the previous wasteful squandering reckless administration because they don’t like a particular individual. Grow up and get over it already.

[wwest5829]

2 hours ago, alex8912 said:

Great time for the " other Western countries " to chip in a little more.  Instead of criticizing the USA which needs $$$ now for domestic issues. 

Needs $$$ now for domestic issues … like the proposed tax cuts benefitting those as was done with the 2017 tax cuts?

[Purdey]

I agree with others that the cut off was very sudden, as if there were no stocks of drugs or donations from any other country. ASEAN and especially rich members like Singapore and Brunei should take the lead 

[kimothai]

7 hours ago, thesetat said:

I am confused. These camps do not get US money every week or every day. How is it affecting them so quickly? I think they are dramatizing and playing the poor us card. Also, they are in Myanmar. Why isn't that country helping? It seems though that being on the border to Thailand that at least the Thais are contributing for this. 

It may be that they were spending on other things that the money wasn't intended for. That's why it all got shut down - too much waste. The aid will probably be reinstated if it was being spent as intended. 

[thesetat]

22 minutes ago, kimothai said:

It may be that they were spending on other things that the money wasn't intended for. That's why it all got shut down - too much waste. The aid will probably be reinstated if it was being spent as intended. 

As i am sure it all will be restored once they have checked them and found ways to cut their budget. 

[cjinchiangrai]

7 hours ago, Mike_Hunt said:

Why does the USA have to fund the entire world? 

Because the want the most influence.

[alex8912]

15 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Needs $$$ now for domestic issues … like the proposed tax cuts benefitting those as was done with the 2017 tax cuts?

No 

[Patong2021]

 

23 hours ago, alex8912 said:

I agree. Singapore , China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia should all chip in. Myanmar is in their backyard and their neighbors.  The article ONLY mentions the USA and other Western countries. It seems like so many rich countries do the absolute least or nothing at all but you don't see much media hype about that fact ever. But but but, the USA and I'll throw UK in there too need to spend a little less somewhere on earth and ALL the media loves to post negative things about them.  

 

The rebels are at war with the Myanmar military  junta. The regime is an ally of China and is its largest trading partner.  China is pushing its China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). Although China has reportedly obtained a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the  Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), this was for Shan state only.  The Kayin state which is below Shan, and where the Karenni are fighting are not supported by China.  Singapore will not  help because it will not go against China. Malaysia is already dealing with the Rohingya migrants.  Japan is already a large donor in the region. It provided an additional US$37million to UN aid agencies in Thailand and Myanmar in 2024.

 

20 hours ago, Purdey said:

I agree with others that the cut off was very sudden, as if there were no stocks of drugs or donations from any other country. ASEAN and especially rich members like Singapore and Brunei should take the lead 

Brunei? Seriously? It mostly restricts its aid to muslims via the Islamic Development Bank and other Islamic "charities". It has no concern for the plight of the Karen people.

[Purdey]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

 

 

The rebels are at war with the Myanmar military  junta. The regime is an ally of China and is its largest trading partner.  China is pushing its China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). Although China has reportedly obtained a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the  Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), this was for Shan state only.  The Kayin state which is below Shan, and where the Karenni are fighting are not supported by China.  Singapore will not  help because it will not go against China. Malaysia is already dealing with the Rohingya migrants.  Japan is already a large donor in the region. It provided an additional US$37million to UN aid agencies in Thailand and Myanmar in 2024.

 

Brunei? Seriously? It mostly restricts its aid to muslims via the Islamic Development Bank and other Islamic "charities". It has no concern for the plight of the Karen people.

There are Muslims in Myanmar. The 3rd Company of Brigade 4 in the KNU is Muslim.

[mrwebb8825]

On 1/29/2025 at 1:25 AM, sungod said:

 

Why other western countries? Why not the rest of the world?

You mean like the UN doing what it was created for?

[mrwebb8825]

On 1/28/2025 at 10:08 PM, webfact said:

“We cannot just talk about refugees who have been affected by Trump’s policies. All kinds of healthcare and assistance must be provided to other groups of people who live in this country.”

You know he means ex-pats, right?

[spidermike007]

With regard to the cancelation of all aid assistance, this is such a misguided move. The amounts involved are tiny, when compared to defense or his massive tax cuts to the super wealthy. Take from the poor, and give to the rich. That is just who Trump is. We bombed them. Now, we reject our responsibilities. 

 

Trump is NOT a man of the people, on any level. It is one huge charade. 

 

On the Thai-Myanmar border, sick patients are being sent home from hospital. In Laos, school meals have been interrupted. And in Cambodia, hundreds of staff at the agency responsible for clearing land mines have been furloughed.

 

The U.S. State Department on Friday announced a 90-day freeze on nearly all foreign aid, followed one day later by a suspension of global demining programs, according to the New York Times.

 

Japan provides more to those countries, but the U.S. has gradually increased aid to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar from $380 million in 2015 to almost $520 million in 2022, according to Grace Stanhope, a research associate at the Lowy Center who works on its Southeast Asia Aid Map.

 

The pause has also already impacted a number of exile media newsrooms, which rely on small U.S. grants to provide open information in a country where journalists are routinely imprisoned, forcing a number of them to suspend staffers.

 

U.S.-funded programs in Laos range from maternal health to demining operations, a critical need in a country that remains the most heavily bombed in the world, per capita, as a result of U.S. aerial attacks in the 1960s and 70s during the Vietnam War. Less than 10 percent of land in Laos has been cleared of unexploded ordnance, according to Sera Koulabdara, CEO of Legacies of War, which works on education and advocacy around removal of landmines in Southeast Asia.

 

“It is absolutely essential that we hold ourselves accountable for the devastation we caused,” she said. “Just this month in Laos, a 36-year-old man was killed while simply cooking, an innocent victim of an American war that continues to plague the country.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

[alex8912]

21 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

 

The rebels are at war with the Myanmar military  junta. The regime is an ally of China and is its largest trading partner.  China is pushing its China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). Although China has reportedly obtained a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the  Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), this was for Shan state only.  The Kayin state which is below Shan, and where the Karenni are fighting are not supported by China.  Singapore will not  help because it will not go against China. Malaysia is already dealing with the Rohingya migrants.  Japan is already a large donor in the region. It provided an additional US$37million to UN aid agencies in Thailand and Myanmar in 2024.

 

Brunei? Seriously? It mostly restricts its aid to muslims via the Islamic Development Bank and other Islamic "charities". It has no concern for the plight of the Karen people.

These people are ending up in Thailand so Sigapire and Malaysia can support Thailands supporting them!!  The Japanese can pay waaay more $$$. Also so what if Malaysia is helping out ONE other place you mentioned!!  That PREVENTS them from helping out another!!! Imagine if the UK or USA did that??  Your whole post while you are trying to act informed of knowledgeable about this is really just YOU being anti USA! You forgot about Korea too! Next.....

[Patong2021]

11 hours ago, alex8912 said:

These people are ending up in Thailand so Sigapire and Malaysia can support Thailands supporting them!!  The Japanese can pay waaay more $$$. Also so what if Malaysia is helping out ONE other place you mentioned!!  That PREVENTS them from helping out another!!! Imagine if the UK or USA did that??  Your whole post while you are trying to act informed of knowledgeable about this is really just YOU being anti USA! You forgot about Korea too! Next.....

 

It is not being anti USA to point out who is already funding aid and who is hosting the refugees, and two of the countries you criticize are already carrying much of the refugee burden.  You are dismissive of my factual statements without even knowing where the funding originates.  You assume there is an anti US bias when there isn't and you have made incredibly ignorant statements.

 

You also  ignore the fact that western governments have indirectly supported the rebels because they are a thorn in the side of  mainland China. As long as Myanmar's junta is a friend of North Korea, China and Russia, western governments will tacitly support the rebels who wish to depose the junta. As a result, the refugee crisis is a byproduct  in  part of  western foreign policy, i.e. the USA China containment strategy.

 

As per the UNHCR; Thailand hosts less than 95,000 refugees.  90,000 are Myanmar urban refugees and 5,000 from other countries. 

Malaysia hosts 192,000 refugees .  170,530  of them are from Myanmar. 

 

Malaysia  is a smaller than Thailand , has less than 1/2 its population and has a smaller GDP than Thailand, and yet handles almost 2X as many refugees. Unlike Thailand, it doesn't hold them in refugee camps,  Malaysia also has a greater burden than Thailand  because nearly 1/3 of the refugees  (55,000) are children.  So don't wag your finger and say Malaysia should do more when the country is already doing more than Thailand and the USA.

 

You have no idea how much of a presence Japan has in Thailand do you? Look around. The Bangkok subway system is due in large part to Japanese  development aid. The Malaria research facilities  and eradication activity in  places like Chiang Mai was initially the result of Japanese aid.    As per OECD (for the total amount of aid that is sent to  Thailand);  Japan is the largest bilateral donor, with a share of more than 50%. U.S. and Germany account for about 10% each.....(of the foreign aid) 

The major multilateral donors to Thailand are the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) and the EU. The Global Fund supports the Thai government’s goal of eliminating three major infectious diseases (malaria by 2024, AIDS by 2030, and tuberculosis by 2035) Its initiatives also include migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos , and Cambodia.

So don't start huffing and puffing about Japan doing more when it is the largest foreign aid donor by far.

 

Singapore is a small city state and has never been particularly charitable. It will not engage in activities that annoy the PRC because of its dependence upon the PRC for economic interests. In plain language, Singapore won't risk losing its services revenues for a few thousand refugees in an area  of no importance to it. That is not the Singaporean mentality.