Mae Sariang area

Mae Sariang TBBC Field Office

164 Moo 12
Bankat,
Mae Sariang,
MaeHongSon 58110
tbbcmsr@tbbc.org

A field coordinator, 2 field assistants, food security assistant, administrator are based here.

Mae Sariang field office provides support to two camps, MaeLa Oon and Mae Ra Ma Luang, in MaeHongSon Province

Mae La Oon

Orientation

History
Mae La Oon was established in January 2004 is a result of a history of refugee camp consolidations in the Mae Sariang / Salween area. Many smaller camps were set up during 1995 after the Burma army took control of the KNU headquarters at Manerplaw and extended its presence along large stretches of the Moei and Salween rivers which were previously home to Karen villages and KNU bases. These newly-formed refugee camps included Mae Yeh Hta, U Dah, Klo Pa, Mae S’Ku, Ban Sala and Mae Khong Kha.

Ban Sala and Mae Khong Kha were located along the same stream – originally about 3 kms from each other – and at first had a combined population of about 4,000. As the populations increased, Ban Sala stretched upstream and Mae Khong Kha extended downstream until, in 1998, they were only separated by a 10-minute walk.

In March 1998, the Thai authorities consolidated the other Salween camp populations into these two camps, and about 3,700 refugees moved into the sites, effectively causing the two camps to merge. This was officially recognised in September 1998 when the site was renamed as a single camp – Mae Khong Kha – and a single camp committee selected. Earlier, in June, Section 13 was created in the camp to house more than 450 Burmese students who had fled following the Burma Army’s capture of the ABSDF base at Wei Gyi. However, even after the merger, the camp was still commonly referred to by its two parts – Ban Sala and Mae Khong Kha.

In September 2002, the camp experienced a devastating ‘flash flood’. Tragically, 26 refugees lost their lives in the flooding, which also resulted in major damage to camp infrastructure. Over 250 houses were completely destroyed and another 230 were severely damaged. Two high schools, eight primary schools, one nursery, four camp administration offices, five NGO offices, four reception centres and two OPD clinics were also completely destroyed. The Thai authorities co-ordinated with NGOs and the UNHCR to mount a rapid emergency relief effort, which proved to be highly effective despite having to operate in very adverse weather conditions.

Demographics
TBBC Feeding Population: 16,223 (August 2008)

Breakdown by Age	<5 Yrs	5-17 Yrs	18-59 Yrs	>59 Yrs
	15%	35%	46%	4%
Breakdown by Gender	Female	Male
	49%	51%
Breakdown by Ethnicity	Karen	Burman	Other
	98%	1%	1%

Resettlement (Source: IOM)
In 2005, RTG gave approval for resettlement opportunities to be offered to camp residents. Statistics for resettlement by camp is available since 2006. As of July 2008, 1,723 people have departed from Mae La Oon since 2006.

Non-Governmental Organisations/UN Agencies

Mae Ra Ma Luang

Mae Ra Msa Luang is also known as Mae Ra Mu or Mae Ra Mu Klo in Karen

Orientation

History
Mae Ra Ma Luang lies opposite Manerplaw – the old headquarters of the Karen resistance, and home to many of the pro-democracy groups that fled crackdowns following the demonstrations throughout Burma in 1988. This area is now occupied by Burma Army and DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) troops, but there is little fighting or military operations in this specific part of the borderlands.

Mae Ra Ma Luang was first set up in February 1995, following the fall of Manerplaw. Initially, a large number of the people living in areas around Manerplaw fled to Mae Taw La village on the Thai side. Upon agreement with Thai authorities and local landowners, they were soon allowed to relocate to the present site. People from Mae Po Hta camp, which was also deserted following the Burma Army’s capture of the area were initially relocated to Huai Haeng, but gradually moved to the present site by November 1995. The initial population of Mae Ra Ma Luang was about 4,000. However, in February/March 1998 during the consolidation of the Salween camps to the north, there was a further influx of about 2,300 refugees who did not want to relocate to the consolidated camps of Ban Sala and Mae Khong Kha (since relocated to Mae La Oon). The camp extended southwards to accommodate these new residents to where the Mae Ra Ma Luang river flows into the larger Mae Yuam. This new part of the camp became Section 7, and straddles the provincial boundary between Mae Hong Son and Tak provinces. In March 1995, Section 1 of the camp was attacked by Burma Army and DKBA troops, but since this time there have been no further security incidents.

Demographics
TBBC Feeding Population: 16,199 (August 2008)

Breakdown by Age	<5 Yrs	5-17 Yrs	18-59 Yrs	>59 Yrs
	14%	36%	46%	4%
Breakdown by Gender	Female	Male
	49%	51%
Breakdown by Ethnicity	Karen	Other
	99%	1%

Resettlement (Source: IOM)
In 2005, RTG gave approval for resettlement opportunities to be offered to camp residents. Statistics for resettlement by camp is available since 2006. As of July 2008, 1,257 people have departed from Mae Ra Ma Luang since 2006.

Non-Governmental Organisations/UN Agencies