By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN refugee agency on Tuesday welcomed the new resolution by the Thailand Government that will allow long-term refugees from Myanmar to work legally in the country as a significant step boost the national economy.
UNHCR noted that some 81,000 forcibly displaced people are hosted in temporary shelters along the Thai-Myanmar border where they have been living in the camps for decades.
It said that half the refugee population born under canvas, where displaced families have largely depended on humanitarian assistance.
Over a million Rohingya, a mostly-Muslim minority from Myanmar have fled conflict and persecution in multiple waves of displacement, the agency said.
UNHCR’s Representative in Thailand, Tammi Sharpe, described the Government’s decision as a major “turning point.”
She said it would not only help refugees support themselves but also benefit local economies and strengthen Thailand’s long-term growth.
“By unlocking the potential of these individuals, Thailand is not only upholding humanitarian principles but also making a strategic investment in its own future,” Ms. Sharpe said.
The new resolution covers a limited number, the UN agency said it would continue to advocate for wider refugee inclusion – offering support to the Thai Government in rolling out the new policy.
The move came at a time when aid budgets for displaced people worldwide are facing severe cuts.
UN agency said that Thailand’s move could set a regional precedent for sustainable, rights-based refugee policies – and serve as a model for countries facing similar challenges.
According to agency, $25.4 million is needed in 2025 to ensure operations covered by the Thailand-based international office is sustained oversees operations in Cambodia, the Laos, and Viet Nam.
