Thailand

Our Work in Thailand

Thailand continues to be a host country for thousands of refugees and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar.

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.

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

Danh, a 21-year-old Vietnamese refugee, during his computer class in Bangkok. (Stephane Larue/Jesuit Refugee Service)
JRS supports the transportation of preschool children to and from the Krung Jor Shan refugee camp, home to people of the Shan tribe who fled conflict in Myanmar. (Magis Production)
Sr. Prapatsorn Srivorakun, a Ursuline nun, mentors Zin Min Thu in a JRS training center for Burmese children. After years of missing school while fleeing conflict in Myanmar, the children learn Burmese, Thai and English to catch up with the Thai school system. (Magis Production)