A not so happy new year for Myanmar refugees

Posted by admin on January 7th, 2010 filed in Culture & customs, Living here, People, Politics, The North, Uncategorized, Understanding Thais

I read this week that aid groups are warning that the amount of Myanmar refugees living on a rancid rubbish dump just outside Mae Sot is set to rise. This apparently is set to take place as military-ruled Myanmar prepares to host its first parliamentary elections in 20 years.

The increase in refugees is expected to exasperate the strain of both Thailand and China, who are also baring the brunt of the exodus. Of more concern, however, is the overcrowding effect this will in turn have on those already living in squalid conditions among mounds of stinky garbage.

While many may say that life on the rubbish dump beats that of back home, I dread to think what 2010 will bring for them. An even larger army of barefoot children to greet the rubbish trucks each week, looking for broken toys and anything that can keep them distracted from the reality of both their new and old surroundings.