Ee Thu Tha IDP Camp
Donation protected
The Ee Thu Tha Internally Displaced Persons Camp was established in 2006, and is situated on the banks of the Salween River between Myanmar and Thailand.
Almost 3000 people currently inhabit the camp as a result of the systematic and ongoing destruction of their homes and villages within Myanmar. They seek refuge from the actions of the Burmese military, who since 1949 have attempted to rid the country of ethnic minorities (such as the Karen) from within their borders through violence and discrimination.
The villages nearby the camp have decimated by the tactics of the Burmese military, which aim to remove sources of food, education, economic successes and a stable population to put an end to the presence of the Karen, Rohingya and other ethnic people in Myanmar. The camp provides an area free from such oppression, although the camp has no choice but to rely on outside support.
The need for basic food supplies in Ee Thu Tha is extremely important, as the camp is not supported by either Myanmar or Thailand. The political situation has improved marginally throughout the past decade, with the election of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2015 bringing hope for change. However, the situation on the ground near the camp has worsened, with incursions by the Myanmar military into nearby villages and the removal of all international food aid to the camp in October 2017, causing the standard of living to be in a condition more desperate than ever.
The area surrounding the camp is infested with landmines, preventing the inhabitants from farming and sustaining themselves without risk of being killed or maimed, further increasing the need for outside support. The people there are stateless as Thailand has not ratified the United Nation’s 1951 Refugee Convention assistance there is limited, further highlighting the need for the camp’s ability to support those in need.
Tom, Michael, Pat and I, along with 13 other Australian volunteers were recently volunteering in a Thai-Karen village of Northern Thailand. We were living with refugees of the Ee Thu Tha camp, and have become very close friends with them. They are living and working here, attempting to provide support for their friends and family left in their home town. Through living with these refugees, we can see the perseverance and continuous determination to improve the standard of living in Ee Thu Tha. This campaign is an attempt to further support their efforts, particularly in regards to this pressing issue.
We are asking you to support our endeavour in advocating for the unacceptable yet silent horrors that are occurring daily to ethnic minorities, specifically in the Myanmar/Thailand region. There are needs all around the world, and here is a need that we have identified and are embarking to change. Help us achieve this.
You donations will go towards providing food for the members of Ee Thu Tha, reducing one aspect of their immense plight.
For $3.60 you can provide 5kg of rice for 1 family, or 1kg of rice for 5 families.
For $3.25 you can provide enough chicken to sustain 1 family for 1 week.
For $12 you can give 1 family a pack of vegetables seeds, providing them with a sustainable source of nourishment.
There are currently over 350 families residing in Ee Thu Tha - every little bit counts.
I (Rebekah Smith) will be withdrawing all funds raised, purchasing the food and distributing everything bought with the help of local camp leaders. I will be going over to Ee Thu Tha between 21st and 31st November to personally distribute.
Almost 3000 people currently inhabit the camp as a result of the systematic and ongoing destruction of their homes and villages within Myanmar. They seek refuge from the actions of the Burmese military, who since 1949 have attempted to rid the country of ethnic minorities (such as the Karen) from within their borders through violence and discrimination.
The villages nearby the camp have decimated by the tactics of the Burmese military, which aim to remove sources of food, education, economic successes and a stable population to put an end to the presence of the Karen, Rohingya and other ethnic people in Myanmar. The camp provides an area free from such oppression, although the camp has no choice but to rely on outside support.
The need for basic food supplies in Ee Thu Tha is extremely important, as the camp is not supported by either Myanmar or Thailand. The political situation has improved marginally throughout the past decade, with the election of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2015 bringing hope for change. However, the situation on the ground near the camp has worsened, with incursions by the Myanmar military into nearby villages and the removal of all international food aid to the camp in October 2017, causing the standard of living to be in a condition more desperate than ever.
The area surrounding the camp is infested with landmines, preventing the inhabitants from farming and sustaining themselves without risk of being killed or maimed, further increasing the need for outside support. The people there are stateless as Thailand has not ratified the United Nation’s 1951 Refugee Convention assistance there is limited, further highlighting the need for the camp’s ability to support those in need.
Tom, Michael, Pat and I, along with 13 other Australian volunteers were recently volunteering in a Thai-Karen village of Northern Thailand. We were living with refugees of the Ee Thu Tha camp, and have become very close friends with them. They are living and working here, attempting to provide support for their friends and family left in their home town. Through living with these refugees, we can see the perseverance and continuous determination to improve the standard of living in Ee Thu Tha. This campaign is an attempt to further support their efforts, particularly in regards to this pressing issue.
We are asking you to support our endeavour in advocating for the unacceptable yet silent horrors that are occurring daily to ethnic minorities, specifically in the Myanmar/Thailand region. There are needs all around the world, and here is a need that we have identified and are embarking to change. Help us achieve this.
You donations will go towards providing food for the members of Ee Thu Tha, reducing one aspect of their immense plight.
For $3.60 you can provide 5kg of rice for 1 family, or 1kg of rice for 5 families.
For $3.25 you can provide enough chicken to sustain 1 family for 1 week.
For $12 you can give 1 family a pack of vegetables seeds, providing them with a sustainable source of nourishment.
There are currently over 350 families residing in Ee Thu Tha - every little bit counts.
I (Rebekah Smith) will be withdrawing all funds raised, purchasing the food and distributing everything bought with the help of local camp leaders. I will be going over to Ee Thu Tha between 21st and 31st November to personally distribute.
Organizer
Rebekah Smith
Organizer
Beecroft, NSW