BURMA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Burmese Civil War, which started shortly after the country gained independence in 1948, is widely thought to be the longest civil war in history.  The war is essentially the Burmese and majority ethnic group against the minority groups such as the Karen, Karenni and Zomi.  These minorities are being killed in order to make more space and less resistance for the Burmese.  The minority groups are walking through thick jungle by night for days in order to reach the Burma-Thailand border where they hope to find safety in refugee camps.  The living conditions in the Thai camps are nearly uninhabitable and they are not allowed outside the fence of the camp, but it is the only option they have besides staying and being slaughtered in Burma.  Humanitarian aid has been limited within Burma’s borders although there are nearly 374,000 internally displaced people needing assistance.  The UNHR reported 479,706 refugees have left Burma and a total of 902,169 people are of concern to the UNHCR.

 

For more information, see the UNHCR 2015 Burma profile.