Bangkok: A new resolution by the Thai Government that will allow long-staying refugees from Myanmar to work legally in the country was welcomed on Tuesday by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, as a significant boost to the national economy. 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. Nearly half the refugee population were born under canvas, where displaced families have largely depended on humanitarian assistance.
According to United Nations, over a million Rohingya, a mostly-Muslim minority from Myanmar, have fled conflict and persecution in multiple waves of displacement. UNHCR representative Ms. Sharpe noted that the resolution 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 making a strategic investment in its own future.
Although 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 comes at a time when aid budgets for displaced people worldwide are facing severe cuts.
For the UN agency, Thailand's move could set a regional precedent for sustainable, rights-based refugee policies - and serve as a model for countries facing similar challenges, UNHCR said. According to agency, $25.4 million is needed in 2025 to ensure operations covered by the Thailand-based international office is sustained - which also oversees operations in Cambodia, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic and Viet Nam.