UNHCR to conduct census of Myanmar displaced
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will conduct a survey this month to determine the current number of Myanmar displaced persons in Thailand, a UNHCR representative said on Thursday.
The decision was taken after a meeting between Tak Governor Somchai Hatayatanti and heads of refugee camps in Tak’s Tha Song Yang, Phob Phra and Umphang districts. UN refugee agencies along with representatives of non-governmental organisations also attended the talks.
There are about 70,000 displaced persons from Myanmar living in the border shelters at present and many of them have been more there more than 20 years, the meeting was told.
The UNHCR representative said that the surveys will start on January 26 in the shelters in Mae Hong Son province. The survey will then extend to other camps in other provinces.
“The current situation in Myanmar has already returned to normal but asylum seekers still remain in the shelters,” the meeting was told.
“There is therefore the need to send those people back home,” the meeting was told.
Meanwhile, Tak authorities have asked for cooperation of all parties to monitor problems with drugs, which have spread to the areas surrounding the camps.
