Following the USAid announcement, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) ceased operations in clinics, leaving thousands of Myanmar refugees in urgent need of medical care. Tha Song Yang hospital in Thailand's Tak province has stepped in to support these communities, particularly the 30,000 inhabitants of the Mae La camp, a majority from the Karen ethnic group. While the hospital strives to fill the service gaps, it faces significant challenges due to insufficient policies and support. Meanwhile, Mae Tao clinic continues to serve around 100,000 patients yearly, addressing the healthcare needs of migrants and refugees in the region.
Since the suspension of the IRC camp clinics, the Tha Song Yang hospital has been working tirelessly to provide medical aid for those in the Mae La camp, which is home to about 30,000 individuals from Myanmar's ethnic Karen group. Tawatchai Yingtaweesak, the hospitalâs director, emphasized their struggle to fill the void left by the IRC, stating that they lack the necessary policies and support to effectively deliver care in these camps.
The situation is critical; after the USAid announcement, the International Rescue Committee had no choice but to shut down its clinics, leaving many refugees in dire need without adequate healthcare services.
The Mae Tao clinic, founded by Dr. Cynthia Maung after she fled Myanmar in 1988, has become a primary healthcare source, treating around 100,000 patients annually, catering specifically to the displaced, migrants, and indigenous populations.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reports that approximately 90,000 displaced people currently reside in nine temporary camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, illustrating the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by these individuals.
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