Millions of Burmese nationals, fleeing the escalating civil conflict, economic collapse, and forced conscription in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup, continue to seek refuge and livelihood across the border in Thailand. An estimated 4.1 million to 4.6 million Burmese now reside in Thailand, with approximately half having arrived since the coup. The influx has created a complex humanitarian situation, with long-term refugees enduring aid cuts and new arrivals struggling for legal status and basic services, even as they symbolize resilience by building new communities.
Since the February 2021 military coup that ousted the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has been embroiled in a widespread civil war, marked by intense violence between the military junta and a coalition of ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy resistance forces. This ongoing conflict, coupled with a collapsing economy and the junta’s enforcement of mandatory conscription, has driven unprecedented numbers of people to flee, with an estimated 18.6 million people in Myanmar requiring humanitarian assistance by May 2025. Civilian casualties are significant, and millions are internally displaced within Myanmar.
Thailand, sharing a 2,400-kilometer porous border with Myanmar, has long been a primary destination for Myanmar nationals seeking economic opportunities or escaping conflict. The current crisis has exacerbated these movements, leading to a substantial increase in the Burmese population in Thailand. While roughly 150,000 Burmese refugees reside in nine official camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, many of whom have lived there for decades since the mid-1980s, an estimated two million Burmese migrants live predominantly in urban areas across Thailand. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) conservatively estimates that up to 1.7 million Myanmar migrants in Thailand are undocumented.
The legal framework for these displaced populations in Thailand is restrictive. Refugees in official camps face severe limitations on freedom of movement and are legally barred from seeking employment, relying heavily on humanitarian aid. This reliance has become increasingly precarious. Notably, US funding cuts implemented in early 2025 led to the cessation of most food and primary healthcare assistance for over 100,000 refugees in these camps, creating a critical humanitarian crisis. Human Rights Watch reported that these cuts had already led to deaths and urged the Thai government to liberalize policies, allowing refugees to work legally and travel outside the camps to prevent further suffering and enable self-sufficiency.
For undocumented Burmese, the situation is even more precarious. They face constant threats of harassment, arrest, and deportation, often working in informal sectors where exploitation and poor conditions are rampant. Despite these challenges, many are contributing significantly to the Thai economy, filling critical labor shortages in various sectors, including fishing, construction, and domestic services. International institutions and academics suggest that the influx of skilled Burmese professionals and entrepreneurs could bolster Thailand's aging economy.
Amidst this struggle, communities are forming, demonstrating remarkable resilience. In Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, Ko Thet, who fled Myanmar in 2021 after the coup, established a night market on a former junkyard. This market, rich with Burmese cuisine and culture, serves as a symbolic space for exiles to "take root in foreign soil," as Ko Thet describes it. He aims to build bridges between Burmese and Thai people through such initiatives. Among those finding new lives are individuals like Nye Chi, an IT student who once dreamed of journalism but now sells pickled-tealeaf salad after training as an anesthetist with a rebel army. These stories highlight the stolen futures and the forced adaptation of many highly skilled Burmese who now accept lower wages but bring valuable skills and new dynamism to Thailand.
The Royal Thai Government, while acknowledging the influx, has provided some temporary safety areas for new arrivals, though it has also, at times, pushed them back. Dialogue among donors, the Royal Thai Government, UNHCR, and NGOs continues regarding a "Framework for Durable Solutions" aimed at promoting self-reliance opportunities for Burmese refugees. However, the urgency for sustainable and compassionate policies that grant greater autonomy and dignity to all Myanmar nationals in Thailand remains paramount as the conflict in their homeland shows no signs of abating. The long-term prospects for return remain uncertain, making the integration and protection of these displaced populations a pressing humanitarian and economic imperative for Thailand and the international community.
ISN MEDIA
