Thailand

Number of people served: 14,418

Thailand continues to be a host country for thousands of refugees and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar. At present more than 90,000 refugees from Myanmar reside in 9 camps along the Thai-Myanmar border.

Because the country has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention, the government considers asylum seekers and refugees to be undocumented migrants. Consequently, refugees are not protected by law in Thailand and are subject to arrest. In Bangkok, most of the urban refugees come from Pakistan, Somalia, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Our work in Thailand

JRS Thailand provides educational, emergency, health, and pastoral support to refugees and asylum seekers living in both camps and urban areas.

In Bangkok, JRS Thailand works with urban refugees and asylum seekers, providing financial support and educational training. Urban Refugee Project (URP) provides casework and psychosocial services. The casework service focuses on meeting basic needs such as housing, food, medical care and transport by providing financial assistance. In addition to casework and psychosocial support, URP also offers skill building activities to refugees and asylum seekers.

On the border, JRS educational programmes also provide opportunities and pastoral accompaniment to migrant children from Myanmar.

See our work

Children attending JRS classes in Mae Hong Son, Thailand.
Children are learning life skills on a farm near Ranong, Thaiiland.
Pakistani refugees playing cricket in Bangkok.
Pakistani refugees playing cricket in Bangkok.
A group of refugees after a futsal game in peer support activity. Urban Education Project, Bangkok, Thailand.

Contact

JRS Thailand Country Director

Kevin Cullen, S.J.

kevin.cullen@jrs.net

Project locations:

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Son

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