Aid cuts force refugees to bankroll Thai camps

Myanmar refugees in Thailand are being forced to bankroll their own survival after international aid cuts gutted support for border camps, a new report warns.

The Border Consortium (TBC), which has assisted camps for more than three decades, says refugee‑led committees are now covering essential services once funded by donors. With international support slashed since 2025, fewer than 16 per cent of the 107,000 refugees across nine camps still receive direct aid.

Committees such as the Karen Refugee Committee and Karenni Refugee Committee have stepped in, employing more than 1,600 refugees to keep water pumps running, collect waste and cover hospital bills. But leaders admit they cannot sustain these costs indefinitely.

Beyond basic services, committees are also navigating Thailand’s new refugee work permit scheme, coordinating with authorities and employers to help residents secure lawful jobs.

Yet despite decades of managing camp affairs, they remain sidelined by international agencies, often excluded from key decisions and learning of funding cuts through the media.

TBC’s report highlights this exclusion as a major flaw, accusing global organisations of tokenism and calling for refugee committees to be recognised as frontline decision‑makers.

With Myanmar’s conflict showing no sign of easing, the consortium warns that direct financial support to these self‑governing bodies is the only way to prevent a collapse of camp infrastructure.

As TBC’s Maximillian Mørch put it: “It is a real testament to how communities have organised themselves. The worry is what comes next.”

-2026-06-05