Thailand plans decade‑long refugee camp closure

Mizzima

Thai authorities have outlined a 10‑year plan to shut down refugee camps along the Myanmar border, raising fresh concerns among displaced communities who have lived there for decades.

According to the Karen Refugee Committee, officials revealed during a meeting in mid‑May that camps would first be consolidated within five years before being fully closed within a decade. “Beyond that five‑year mark, and within a ten‑year timeframe, the camps will be systematically closed down and will cease to exist officially,” said Saw Pwe Say, the committee’s secretary.

The policy affects nine camps, including Mae La, Nu Poe, Umpiem and Mae La Oon, which together host tens of thousands of refugees. While the timeline has been set, authorities have yet to clarify what legal status or freedom of movement residents will have once the camps are dismantled.

At Nu Poe camp, officials have begun registering residents to relocate to either Umpiem or Mae La. But uptake has been limited, with many reluctant to sign up. “We are afraid to register. They only asked us to choose between two places,” one resident told local media.

Sources close to aid organisations say Thailand is considering issuing special identification cards, similar to the “pink cards” used by migrant workers, to refugees. Such a move could provide limited legal recognition, though details remain uncertain.

The announcement comes against a backdrop of dwindling international support. Since food aid was reduced, Thailand has allowed refugees to work legally outside the camps from 2025, helping families to survive but also signalling a shift towards self‑reliance.

For now, the prospect of closure has left many long‑term residents anxious. With consolidation already under way, the next decade will determine whether refugees are integrated into Thai society or face renewed displacement.

-2026-05-31