Thailand refugee program
Numerous refugee camps have formed along the east bank of the Moei River in Thailand, in either direction from Mae Sot. Most of the refugees are Karens (now numbering over 100,000) who have escaped with military offences of the Burmese army.
From the mid-1970's, during every dry season small groups of Karen fled into Thailand. In 1984, when many remained permanently, the Thai government asked voluntary agencies and churches to provide emergency assistance.
The Vicar of Christ Church Bangkok, the Reverend Ian Bull, was asked by the Anglican Consultative Council to assist Anglican refugees who had fled into Thailand.
Since that time the work has developed considerably, latterly under the auspices of the Christ Church Karen Outreach Committee.
Considered displaced persons by the Thai authorities, these refugees do not come under the auspices of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
So it has fallen to the churches and humanitarian agencies to provide emergency rations and to support initiatives in the fields of education, health care and skills training.
A few years ago the Thai-Burma border was seriously destabilised by the collapse of the Thai economy, and the consequent Thai policy to expel illegal workers - many of them Burmese. The DKBA backed by the Burmese military continuously terrorised the Karen refugees by sending in raiding parties to torch their camps resulting in loss of life and injury.
In this volatile context the growth of the Anglican Church has been remarkable. A team of 4 Karen clergy and 11 catechists works in the refugee camp Mae La and the Thai-Karen villages, particularly but not exclusively, Noh Bo & Mae Salit Khee, serving some 3,000 Anglicans. These camps are just a half-hour drive from the Friendship Bridge connecting the two countries across the Moei River.
The Christ Church Outreach Program exists to serve the needs as identified by the Karen clergy who are accountable to Bishop Daniel of Pa-an in Burma. It is politically difficult for the Bishop to cross the border, so Christ Church traditionally acts on his behalf.
AngliCORD's assistance covers education, agriculture and emergency relief. Schooling is precious and at the Noh Bo Academy 135 Karen young men and women take their lessons very seriously, conscious of the opportunities afforded them.
Small scale projects such as pig raising, and vegetable gardens are being encouraged. The black pig, which is preferred in the camps, is providing an income for 20 needy families.