A Community Without a Country

This area is home to many refugees fleeing war, forced labor and poverty in Burma/Myanmar. Leaving family and community behind has destroyed the support network for families and exacerbated the immense challenges they face when relocating to a foreign country and culture.

Upon arrival in Thailand, Burmese immigrants are restricted to living in a small region around the border where they encounter discrimination and a lack of jobs. Access to medical treatment and public education is minimal as immigrants face great barriers receiving social services without legal papers. Most of the children at Baan Unrak have either come from Burma or were born in Thailand but lack legal papers claiming their national identity.

Alcohol, drug and spousal abuse

Rampant alcohol and drug abuse are problems in our community. Tolerance of spousal abuse is also common in this area. Abandonment of children born in prior relationships is a routine occurrence in this region. Poverty exacerbates these problems.

HIV

HIV/AIDS is also a significant problem as many men travel to find work in urban areas where they visit prostitutes and become infected. Then, they transmit it to their wives and unborn children. Women are sometimes forced into prostitution due to lack of employment prospects making them at high risk to contract HIV. This leads to one or both parents dying or being too weak to care for their children.