MYANMAR – The Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) said that health care services in refugee camps on the Thai-Myanmar border have been suspended since US President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning international aid.
Hospitals in refugee camps on both the Thailand and Myanmar sides have been closed since January 27, the patients except for emergency patients have been forced to discharge for the hospitals, and no new outpatients being accepted for treatment.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC), which provides health care assistance in Mae La refugee camp in Tak Province, and other camps in Thailand, had been suspended the aid, resulting in the halt of providing medicines and health care service to the needy people, including women, mothers, the critically ill, emergency patients, chronic patients, and those with tuberculosis, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
The IRC said the hospitals are no longer able to operate because of the lack of staff in Hospitals’ outpatient departments and inpatient departments. This situation, coupled with the fact that the IRC’s funding has been cut off due to Trump’s order, is likely to lead to increased health problems in border refugee camps.
The Karen Information Center – KIC reported that hospitals have turned away patients, citing a hospital worker at the Noh Poe or Nu Po refugee camp. It was said that health workers have not been paid for this month and that it was not clear when they will be paid. All IRC-affiliated facilities have been told to stop working for the time being.
The suspension of health services will affect all patients in the border camps, except for emergency patients.
The KIC reported that after hospitals in all refugee camps, including Mae La and Nu Poe, stopped operating, patients who had appointments with doctors at hospitals have been unable to receive necessary medical treatment, since January 27.
There are nine refugee camps open on the Thai-Myanmar border, sheltering a total of around 90,000 refugees. The camps are operated under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand.
