Foreign Minister Maris Sagiampongsa will be appointed as the head of a special inter-agency committee to manage the impacts of the Myanmar crisis, according to an informed source.
The source indicated that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is expected to announce on Wednesday when the committee will hold its first meeting.
Since the resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Badhiddha-nukara in April, there has been no progress from this special committee.
At the recent ASEAN annual meeting, Thailand donated 9 million baht to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) to support ongoing humanitarian aid along the Thai-Myanmar border.
Maris’ appointment will enable him to lead relevant agencies in coordinating their efforts along the Thai-Myanmar border, especially concerning the safety and livelihood of local people in the border areas.
Thailand continues to provide temporary shelters for Myanmar citizens and facilitate those who wish to return home voluntarily.
Both countries share a 2,401-kilometer-long border, with only a 53-kilometer segment demarcated. Only six border crossings are available for immigration and trade. Due to the porous nature of the border and numerous natural channels, human trafficking has posed a significant challenge to the country’s border security.
