Dec. 24 - An
escalation in the armed conflict in Myanmar in recent days, including
airstrikes, has forced thousands of people to flee into Thailand, prompting a
group of humanitarian organisations on Friday to call on the Thai government
not to turn away people running for their lives.
Since Dec.
15 an escalation in violence in Kayin state in southeastern Myanmar has
displaced about 10,000 people, including children, from their homes in the town
of Lay Kay Kaw and nearby villages, with about 3,900 crossing the border into
Thailand. The conflict has led to an unknown number of civilian casualties and
damage to infrastructure.
The
displaced people are currently seeking safety in a variety of temporary,
makeshift sites in fields and forested areas without adequate shelter, schools
or places of worship.
Save the
Children joined forces with 14 other organisations to call on the Thai
government to keep their borders open to people fleeing the violence after
reports that about 1,000 villagers, including children, were prevented on Dec.
22 from crossing the river into Thailand.
“(The Thai
government) should stop pushing back people seeking refuge in Thailand or
attempting to cross the border as their lives are in danger,” the agencies said in a joint
statement, adding that COVID-19 should not be used justification for blocking
people leaving unsafe and dangerous situations.
“Fighting,
shelling and airstrikes continue in Kayin state, including in the areas where
people have fled. Any returns must be truly voluntary, based on informed
consent and carried out in safety and dignity.”
A joint
statement by several foreign embassies in Myanmar, including the EU, US and
Britain, released on Facebook said
the recent “indiscriminate attacks” in Kayin state, including the shelling of
villages, were a violation of international Humanitarian Law that must stop.
The
humanitarian organisations called for everyone attempting to cross the border
to be treated as potential refugees under international law and to allow the
United Nations and aid organisations to access the displaced civilians so that
they can provide lifesaving aid, especially to the most vulnerable groups
including separated and unaccompanied children, pregnant women, the elderly and
people with disabilities.
They also
called on the Royal Thai Government to work with the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member states to urgently find political and
diplomatic solutions to address the root causes of the conflict in Myanmar.
“Save the
Children condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms. We once again
call on all parties to the conflict to end this violence immediately, and to
keep civilians and their property out of harm’s way. Families and children have
not only been through the trauma of having to flee their homes but now they are
being denied lifesaving assistance. This is follows a worrying trend of
increased security restrictions that are hindering humanitarian aid.”
Escalating
conflict, ongoing political and economic turmoil since a military coup on
Feb.1, and the COVID-19 pandemic have been devastating for children in Myanmar.
Access to health and education is extremely limited, and millions of children
are in danger of going hungry.
Save the
Children and its partners in Myanmar and Thailand are providing food assistance
and essential items to families who need it most. It provides life-saving
health and nutrition services, as well as getting children back into learning
and supporting them with their mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Link to
joint statement
The
signatories of the statement are:
Adventist
Development and Relief Agency
Asylum
Access Thailand
Coalition
for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons
COEER
Foundation
Handicap
International
International
Rescue Committee
Jesuit
Refugee Service
Right to
Play
Ruammit
Foundation-DARE Network
Save the
Children
Pestalozzi
Children's Foundation
Stateless
Children Projection Project III
Terre des
Hommes Germany The Border Consortium
WEAVE
Foundation
For further
enquiries please contact:
- Belinda Goldsmith, Belinda.Goldsmith@SavetheChildren.org
- Media out of hours (GMT): media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831
650409
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