About 10 of the 4,000 or so refugees from Myanmar, living at a shelter in Ban Sao Hin in Mae Sariang district of Thailand’s northernmost province of Mae Hong Son, are infected with malaria, causing concern among Thai health officials.
Most of the refugees, who have escaped the fighting between Myanmar government forces and Karenni rebels, are elderly people, women and children. Seven were born in the shelter and about 300 more are gathering on the Myanmar side of the border, ready to flee to safety on Thai soil, if the fighting escalates.
Local Thai officials have been trying to erect more tents, using bamboo and plastic sheets, to house the refugees as rain has been falling on an almost daily basis. More toilets are also being built.
Local officials say there is no problem with water supply, as it is raining and the refugees rely on water from a nearby creek for washing and bathing.
Officials from a child development centre in Sop Moei district arrived with necessary items and plastic sheets for the refugees today (Tuesday).
The Karenni refugees have been sheltering in Ban Sao Hin village for over a week now, since fighting flared in Myanmar. There is no sign of when the fighting will subside so the refugees can return home.
