The International Rescue Committee started work in Thailand in 1976 in response to the influx of refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Today, we mainly serve refugees from Burma, who began crossing into Thailand in 1984. Their number continues to grow because of Burma’s ongoing human rights abuses and desperate economic conditions, but counts vary widely, from two to three million. In addition, 500,000 Burmese are internally displaced along the country’s eastern border.

How We Help

IRC program activities along the Thailand-Burma border focus on comprehensive primary health care, water and sanitation, migrant health, eye-care, health-worker training, funding for food distribution, legal assistance and advocacy, and gender-based violence prevention and response. The IRC also runs a strong support program for community-based organizations that provide humanitarian assistance to all displaced persons along isolated border areas.

In addition, an IRC office in the Thai capital Bangkok assists people seeking admission to the United States as refugees.