Funding Shortfall Reduces Food Rations in Refugee Camps

Rising commodity prices, the strengthening of the Thai baht and budget shortfalls are raising concerns for the welfare of Burmese refugees along the Thai-Burmese border.

The Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) has not been able to raise sufficient funds to sustain its refugee assistance program and has been forced to cut food rations and other aid, according to Jack Dunford, the TBBC executive director based in Bangkok.

A global rice shortage has led to a price increase of more than 20 percent, said Dunford. “However, key foreign exchange rates against the Thai baht also continue to weaken and in combination, since early this year, the TBBC financial situation has worsened by 100 million baht (US $3.2 million).

According to the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) in Masaring, TBBC’s funding shortfall has led to cuts in food rations like sugar, chili, fish paste and bean cake. Non-food items like building supplies, soap and mosquito nets have been drastically reduced.

A member of the KRC, expressing his concern, said, “We are worried for people who might arrive following a military operation in an ethnic area, and whether the relief organization can raise more funds.”

In a cover letter attached to the TBBC report obtained by The Irrawaddy, Dunford said the cuts could have a serious impact on refugees’ well-being, especially in areas such as health and education.

The group is seeking more funds, he said, but the budget shortfall represents a serious challenge.

The TBBC currently gives food and other assistance to about 130,000 refugees in seven camps along the border. About 14,636 refugees departed for resettlement in 2007 and about 17,000 are expected to leave in 2008.

According to the report, the number of unregistered refugees has increased in the camps since the last Ministry of Interior (Thailand)/United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees registration in 2005.

Based on a TBBC survey, there are an estimated 20,000 unregistered people in the refugee camps. TBBC’s assistance estimates include both registered and unregistered residents.

Provincial Admissions Boards in Thailand cleared the non-registered population in the camps in 2005. There has been no effective procedures in place to screen new entrants since then.

TBBC’s funding crisis in 2007-2008 has been compounded by an unwillingness of some donors to increase funding in the absence of a long-term strategy, the report noted. On the other hand, some major grants have been received earmarked to offset deteriorating foreign exchange rates and rising prices.

After supporting the refugee community for nearly 24 years, the TBBC report said some donors want to see more concrete steps taken to make refugees more self-reliant and to reduce the need for assistance. TBBC is in the process of designing a five-year plan to address the issue.