Programs Current Crises
Thousands of Burmese civilians have crossed the border into China recently, fleeing fighting between Burmese troops and rebels in Burma's eastern state of Shan. Many people are reported to have also fled to avoid being conscripted as porters or soldiers by the Burmese military.
Analysts said the fighting was part of a drive by Burmese state forces to force autonomous rebel groups in the area to participate in elections next year, indicating further conflict is likely.
Media reports quote witnesses as saying Burmese troops have occupied the city of Laogai in Shan's Kokang region, which is largely populated by ethnic Chinese.
Residents are leaving out of fear that there will be fighting between the troops and elements of a local opposition militia, the Myanmar Democratic Alliance, the MNDAA led by Peng Jiasheng.
Citing Chinese government figures, Kitty McKinsey of the United Nations Refugee Agency, said 37,000 Burmese had crossed the border into Yunnan province where they have been given refuge by Chinese authorities.
According to McKinsey, "The Yunnan provincial authorities are giving medical care, shelters, tents and clothing."
China is one of the few countries in Asia that has signed the 1951 Refugee Convention, which McKinsey said obliged the country to allow the UN Refugee Agency to assess first-hand the needs of the refugees.
Chinese authorities have set up seven camps for the refugees, many of whom are ethnic-Chinese citizens of Myanmar.
The refugee influx could pose a challenge for China, which has little experience extending humanitarian assistance to people
The Yunnan province government has said it has sheltered 37,000 refugees in Nansan and other towns near the border, but China has shown no eagerness to host them for long.
Of these, 13,000 are staying in tents provided by the provincial authorities, while the rest are being accommodated by friends and relatives.
Thus far, Chinese authorities have not allowed foreign reporters access to the refugee camps.
The United Nations refugee agency says it still has not been granted access to thousands of refugees who fled from Burma into China in recent weeks.
The UNHCR says it is concerned that more refugees might flee to China if the situation in Burma, also known as Myanmar, continues to deteriorate.
The UNHCR says it is concerned that more refugees might flee to China if the situation in Burma, also known as Myanmar, continues to deteriorate.
"We are working together with the Chinese authorities to try to get access to the area," said Kitty McKinsey, regional spokeswoman for UNHCR.
"While we believe their material needs are being taken care of, we haven't been able to assess what their needs for international protection are," she told IRIN in Bangkok on 1 September.
The UNHCR has proposed a joint mission with Chinese authorities to assess the needs of the refugees. It says it would like to assist the government in providing humanitarian aid. The UNHCR says it also is important to interview the refugees to determine whether any of them are in need of international protection.
Some crowds of Kokang residents have begun to feel safe enough to return to their homes, with hundreds pressing past border checks shouldering bundles of blankets and clothes.
"Of course I'm scared (to go back), but there's no choice," said Liu Shurong, one of the refugees about to return to Kokang. "If you don't go back to guard your shop, it will be looted. Many of my neighbours have lost all their belongings."
Yunnan provincial government spokesman Li Hui said at least 4,000 refugees had returned to Myanmar by the end of the day Monday, August 31st. About 9,000 remained in seven camps set up to house them in tents and makeshift buildings.
However, as of September 4th, there was no indication that the situation was calming down. "There are still people coming in from Burma every day," said Andrej Mahecic of the UNHCR.
The Women's Refugee Commission has worked with Burmese refugees along the Thai border for many years.
Read more about our work with Livelihoods, Youth and Reproductive Health on the Thai/ Burmese border.
