Refugees? A Closer Look at our Border Context
- Nation to Nation
- Jun 16
- 3 min read
For World Refugee Day 2025, we look deeper at the complex context in which we work.
An estimated 5 million people have been displaced by the Myanmar situation (UNHCR, 2025), including 3.6 million IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and 1.4 million refugees and asylum seekers. From our strategic position on the border, we support refugees, IDPs, migrants and stateless people, as well as Thai families. Many communities don't fit neatly into a label, or have many that apply to them. Thankfully, #hopethatchangeslives is for everyone, no matter their context.
Refugees
Thailand hosts almost 90,000 verified Myanmar refugees (UNHCR, 2024). The majority live in nine refugee camps along the border. Refugees are prohibited from working and leaving the camps, risking arrest and deportation if they do. These camps, however, are not recent constructions. In fact, since their establishment in the 1980s, the number of refugees registered in these camps has remained fairly constant. Many families have been there for generations, having fled persecution and conflict more than 30 years ago. There are also many unregistered refugees living in these camps. The true population of the largest single camp is estimated at 50,000 people. Nation to Nation supports refugee families in the camps by delivering food sacs.
When the Myanmar situation escalated in 2021, over 45,000 refugees fled to Thailand but were not permitted to enter the camps. Instead, Thailand established Temporary Safe Areas, where they hosted the refugees until it was safe to return. This practice continues as necessary along the border: when IDP communities are under direct threat, Thailand hosts them temporarily before supporting them to return across river-border. Nation to Nation collaborates with local authorities to bring clean water, hygiene kits and food to these communities in crisis.
IDP Communities
Inside Myanmar an estimated 3.6 million people are displaced. Many live in temporary shelters deep in the jungle. Some camp along the river-border, ready to flee across at a moment's notice. Compounded by the earthquake and aid cuts, communities on-the-run face a daily struggle. Solar lights, tarps and portable water systems provide a lifeline for those in hiding. Nation to Nation establishes relationships with IDP communities and sends aid to where it is most needed.
Migrants
Many of the people we help are undocumented Burmese migrants. According to the International Organisation for Migration, approximately 190,000 people crossed the border under these circumstances in 2023-24, with 25% citing conflict or discrimination as the reason, though they are not verified refugees. In fact, registers fail to capture the true number; the IOM estimates that it could be between 3.5 and 5.4 times greater in the areas where we work.
Lacking documentation, they are vulnerable to exploitation and have limited access to healthcare, education and other services. Barriers to obtaining papers include the risk of deportation, the financial burden and travel restrictions. Even migrants who do have papers face challenging labour conditions such as low pay or no contracts (IOM, 2024). We partner with schools, boarding homes and clinics to provide support for these communities, including adults, youth and children.
Thai Families
Working with the Thai Social Welfare Department, we regularly support vulnerable Thai families who live in poverty. In many cases, the main breadwinner in the family has died or become disabled and they have no alternative source of income. Thailand has made excellent progress in reducing poverty rates since the 1980s, going from a low-income to upper-middle income country in just one generation. However there are still over 6 million people living in poverty (World Bank, 2020). Two of the provinces where we work were among the 5 most deprived areas of Thailand in 2018. With guidance from the Thai Social Welfare Department, we provide food sacs and other necessities to assist these vulnerable members of society.
Stateless Persons
Almost half a million stateless people live in the border region, the majority from ethnic minorities who have been in Thailand for generations, such as the Hmong and Karen Hill Tribes. Stateless means they have no ID for any country. Since 2008, Thailand has been working hard to reduce this number by supporting people to acquire Thai nationality (UNHCR, 2024). Nation to Nation supports these communities, for example by providing bibles and hymn books in the Karen language.
All Communities
Nation to Nation is always prepared to support the communities-in-need that God highlights to us. In February this year, we supported the Thai authorities in caring for victims released from the scam centres along the border, who came from 20 different countries (BBC, 2025). No matter the community, we are ready to meet them with #hopethatchangeslives.
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