COVID-19 Outbreak Hits Thai Karenni Refugee Camp
By Network Media Group
Saturday, September 24, 2022
An COVID-19 outbreak has affected a Karenni refugee camp in Thailand, where at least 154 people have already been infected with the virus. A male health worker, who requested anonymity, told NMG that the outbreak has been spreading in Ban Nai Soi refugee camp in Mae Hong Song Province since early September.
“Those infected show different symptoms. Some are sneezing, others have a high temperature, cough or have pain in their throat, etc,” he said.
So far, health workers have been able to take care of all positive cases. People seeking outside employment are believed to have contracted the disease and brought it to the camp, which is about 2.5 miles from the Burma border and 16 miles from Mae Hong Song town.
During the first outbreak last year, authorities sealed off the camp and didn’t allow anyone to leave, causing economic hardship for many residents who rely on outside work to feed their families. Health workers detected 1,688 transmissions, but no one died from the disease.
Khu Ruby, spokesperson for the Karenni Civil Society Network, said: “It’s really difficult to find a job in the camp and the refugees don’t get enough support. The authorities are preparing once again to lock down the camp and I think many of the refugees will face difficulties.”
He said they only get between $5 to $8 a month from donors, so they need to leave the camp to work. As many families have no savings, some have asked their leaders to help them.
After fleeing Burma Army offensives, refugees set up a camp in Karenni State on the Burma-Thai border in 1989. Following many moves, they established the camp at its current location in Thailand in 1996 with 1,700 people. After merging two other camps with Ban Mai Nai Soi, the population has grown to over 10,000 residents, according to The Border Consortium, which provides the refugees with basic assistance.
