More than 240 new refugees have arrived at Karenni refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border this year, according to a camp administration committee.

150 new refugees arrived to the Karenni Refugee Camp 1 between January to March of this year. Over 90 new refugees also arrived at Karenni Refugee Camp 2. Most newly arrived refugees are youths, and they have families.

The new refugees at Camp 1 report they left their homes because of the Burmese regime’s new military conscription laws. However, new refugees at Camp 2 left the country due to the Burmese Army patrols in their area, according to the refugee camp administration committee.

“Some people have come to the refugee camp because they are afraid of the new military conscription laws,” Palae Mae, a spokesperson from Karenni Refugee Camp 1, said.

“They have to hide in the jungle when the Burmese Army comes to their village,” said Shar Latt, who is in charge of the Karenni Refugee Camp 2.

The camp administrative committee has permitted the new refugees to live in the camps. The Thai-Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) has provided food for the newcomers.

The Karenni Refugee Committee (KnRC) does not have the authority to permit these new refugees to register in the camps. Registration depends on the Thai authorities and the UNHCR, according to Naw Htoo Lwe, Secretary 2 for the Karenni Refugee Committee.

“We (KnRC) don’t have the authority to accept the refugees’ applications. Thai authorities and the UNHCR have the authority to accept the registration documents from new refugees. They will become legal registered refugees in the camp after the Thai authorities and the UNHCR register them as refugees,” Naw Htoo Lwe said.

Thai authorities accept new refugees as registered refugees depending on the circumstances that have caused the people to leave their villages, such as civil war, gun battles, and armed conflicts.

Over 10,000 refugees from Burma have been resettled in third countries since 2006. Currently, there are 15,122 refugees living in Karenni Refugee Camp 1 and 3,658 refugees living in Karenni Refugee Camp 2.