Mizzima
Two temporary refugee camps in Thailand’s Mae Sot Province, for refugees fleeing fighting near the Karen State town of Myawaddy have been closed, and the refugees have returned to Myanmar.
After fighting broke out in the vicinity of Myawaddy many locals fled across the Moei River to Thailand.
Refugees started arriving on 19 and 20 April when about 3,000 crossed into Thailand. On 20 April temporary camps for them to stay in were set up in the villages of Wantakin and Tharsainglut.
They began returning voluntarily when the fighting started to die down and the Thai authorities also started sending refugees back on 21 April. The last batch of 658 refugees went back to Myanmar on 24 April.
The Thai Border Guard Police and Army helped the refugees return to Myanmar. Some crossed the Moei River by boat and others just waded through shallow water on their return journey.
Some refugees who stayed at hotels, guest houses and relatives’ houses in Mae Sot Town took the legal route back to Myawaddy and crossed the No. 1 Friendship Bridge. These included staff from the casinos in Myawaddy.
Currently, the border crossing on the Myanmar side of the No. 1 Friendship Bridge is only open to arrivals from Thailand. People cannot leave Myanmar through the border crossing.
Before the fighting started in the Myawaddy area the Thai authorities said that Thailand had prepared to receive up to 10,000 refugees from Myanmar.
The Thai Foreign Minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, visited Mae Sot on 23 April. Whilst there, he visited the refugee camps and inspected the situation at the border.
In a press conference during his visit to Mae Sot, the foreign minister said that Thailand would protect and defend its border and would provide shelter to the refugees fleeing from fighting in their country.
Following the refugees return the Red Cross branch office in Mae Sot District closed a donation centre it had opened to accept relief supplies and cash donations to help the refugees.
