Burmese Refugees: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

In recent years a decrease in donor support has lead to worsening conditions in refugee camps on the Thai/Myanmar border with reports of increasing numbers in drug and alcohol addiction, violence and depression.

This makes the work of the addiction prevention program all the more necessary. The effectiveness of the programme speaks for itself: the team has increased its outreach to 60 villages and trained 40 more village coordinators, as well maintaining recovery rates at a strong 61%. Moreover, a training house for new addiction workers and village coordinators has been built to assure that these numbers will not be stagnant and can increase gradually.

In the IDP and refugee camps the program continues its prevention education program with an emphasis on youth. Mae La refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border has the highest rate of addiction and suicide among the camps. Due to its size it is an easy target for drug dealers who take advantage of the vulnerable situation of refugees. The treatment workers in Mae La camp have built up a strong team to take on this challenge.

One of the beneficiaries said: “I went to the treatment centre to take out detoxification in my body and didn’t want to rely myself on drugs, alcohol in my life. My health was being healed by the treatment process such as giving the training, Yoga and other activities. I have got a lot of knowledge from addiction workers and at the same time I can share to the neighboring what the lesson that I have learnt. The activities was benefit for everyone not only addiction people. Mostly people appreciate the workers and still need their activities in the community. “

Thanks to your continued support the program and with it drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation work can continue in the border region!

Prevention education is as important as the treatment provided in the centres.

Teams of community workers provide support in the camps, spreading information about the dangers of addiction, how to work with family members who are addicted and addressing the problems of domestic abuse.

The youth teams gain from this work in so many ways through their sports activities, musical performances and presentations. These teenagers are so proud of their contribution to the community and appreciate the difference they can make.
They learn leadership skills, how to face challenges and solve problems. Through music and sport they are able to motivate their peers to handle stress and the despair they feel living in camps.
These adolescents represent the future leaders and show a resilience that will mark them out in years to come.

One teenager said: “In the team I share the addiction knowledge and how to play ultimate Frisbee. I feel proud of myself that my friends are respect to me listen to me.”

All the community workers acquire skills that will take them beyond life in the camps. One former client who trained as a community worker later took resettlement to the US where he found a role supporting Myanmar refugees who face problems settling into the US. He was spotted by a doctor at the local hospital who arranged for him to become a registered case worker.

Once again we see there is hope that people can find a way out of the ‘hard place’.