Some 81,000 internally displaced persons are living in temporary shelters along Thailand’s border with Myanmar. The policy change will allow them to legally work in the country and contribute to Thailand’s economy. Many of these refugees have been living in camps for decades and are completely dependent on humanitarian aid. Some 47 per cent were born in temporary shelters.
“The long exile seemed like an endless wait,” said Tammy Sharp, UNHCR’s representative in Thailand.
“Today marks a turning point. With this policy change, Thailand is turning refugee reception into an engine of growth – for refugees, for host communities and for the country as a whole,” she added.
By unlocking the potential of these people, Sharp said, Thailand is “making a strategic investment in its own future.”
Thailand is turning refugee hosting into a growth engine
“Refugees will now be able to support themselves and their families, boost the local economy through increased consumption and contribute to job creation,” the UNHCR spokesperson emphasised.
Thai authorities adopted the resolution at a critical time when millions of internally displaced people around the world are at risk of losing access to aid due to a sharp drop in global humanitarian funding.
Thailand’s new policy, if fully implemented, would set a new regional standard for a rights-based solution to the refugee problem. It could serve as a model for other countries facing similar challenges.
UNHCR stands ready to support the Royal Thai Government in implementing this policy through a strategic development partnership, working with a wide range of stakeholders with expertise in both development and refugee protection.