Saw Waw, the chairman of Nu Po Refugee Camp said to KIC News: “These people have returned voluntarily. As the camp’s officials, we are just providing assistance to them.”

Officials from the Burmese government, the Thai government, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) played a major role in making arrangements for the refugees return, as did the Karen State Border Affairs and Security Minister Colonel Aung Lwin, who provided personal assistance to the refugees.

The refugees will stay at the welcome camp for three days before being taken to to Lay Kay Kaw Myothit in Myawaddy Township, Rangoon or Bago Region depending on their preferences.

A six-member family from Tham Hin Refugee Camp in Ratchaburi Province also arrived in Tanintharyi Region (Tenasserim Division) on 25 October. According to the UNHCR Thailand Facebook page the World Food Programme has also given them a three-month supply of food.

According to UNHCR figures there are 103,300 Karen, Karenni, Mon, and Burmese refugees living in nine refugee camps on the Thai side of the Thai-Burma border.  

Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI