Following the suspension of U.S. government funding for refugee assistance for 90 days, all health services under the International Rescue Committee (IRC) along the Thai-Myanmar border have been temporarily paused.
As a result, clinics and hospitals in refugee camps were closed, with patients discharged starting January 27. The clinic in Karenni Refugee Camp (1), located in Mae Hong Son District, Thailand, was also closed this morning, according to health workers and camp committee members.
The community, heavily reliant on the clinic for medical care, now faces significant challenges, especially for patients with chronic illnesses and pregnant women, said Ma Moe Bue, a camp committee member.
“This is a major blow for us. Many residents suffer from chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and pregnant women often need support. Without a clinic, some might face life-threatening complications. We have no documentation to seek treatment at hospitals outside of the camp, and medical costs are quite expensive for refugees like us,” Ma Moe Bue explained.
On January 27, patients previously referred to Mae Hong Son Hospital via IRC were also discharged. Emergency and urgent care for critical patients is no longer available.
Additionally, patients at the refugee camp clinic who rely on long-term medication will no longer have access to their medicine. Those dependent on oxygen support are also facing significant challenges. It is reported that there are currently seven inpatients at the clinic, including individuals with chronic illnesses and those requiring oxygen therapy.
As of this morning, the clinic reportedly had approximately 70 outpatients and 7 inpatients, all of whom have now been discharged. For critical inpatients, they have been advised to purchase essential medications themselves, and in case of emergency health issues, they have been instructed to contact clinic staff on time, according to a healthcare worker.
“This situation is very concerning for us. Regarding critical inpatients, we have carefully provided instructions for the medications they need to take and ensured they received sufficient supplies of the necessary medicines in one go. We’ve also informed them to contact our healthcare staff if anything arises. This is the best hope we can offer from our side. Although we can still check on patients’ conditions and provide advice by staying in contact with them, we are unable to handle any required transfers or facilitate additional medical support. Since we can no longer supply essential medicines, we can only guide them on where they might purchase them,” the healthcare worker said.
This suspension of health services is part of broader cuts to humanitarian aid along the Thai-Myanmar border following an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump early in his second term. In addition to healthcare, some humanitarian programs have also been paused.
Karenni Refugee Camp (1) currently houses 10,024 residents, while Camp (2) accommodates about 6,000 people, according to camp committee records. The suspension of health services affects at least six refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, including Karenni Camps (1) and (2), Umphiem, Nupo, and Mae La.
