14 hours ago
Charting Thailand's refugee path
In the mid-1970s, conflict and upheaval across this region forced millions of people from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos to flee their homes in fear. Amidst this chaos, Thailand became a sanctuary for these refugees, offering safety and hope to those displaced.
To manage the humanitarian emergency, on Aug 16, 1975, the Royal Thai Government established the Operations Center for Displaced Persons (OCDP) under the Thai Ministry of Interior. This pivotal moment marked a major turning point in Thailand's role as a place of refuge for people displaced by conflict in the region. During this period, the Thai government, through OCDP, coordinated efforts to manage the influx as well as essential services such as food, shelter, and medical care, playing a critical role in responding to forced displacement -- one that remains deeply relevant today.
In Myanmar, conflict has ebbed and flowed for decades, demanding even greater attention now in 2025 than perhaps at any point since at least the early 2010s. It has forced hundreds of thousands of refugees to seek safety in neighbouring countries, including Thailand.
In the past, resettlement in a third country offered a meaningful solution for refugees in Thailand, a tangible expression of international solidarity in times of crisis. For many years, generous resettlement opportunities provided new beginnings for refugees from both the Indochina and Myanmar crises. Over half a million people who first sought refuge in Thailand have been resettled to third countries, including Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and the United States.
While resettlement is often described as burden sharing, this framing overlooks the immense value refugees bring. Refugees are not a burden, they are assets. They carry with them the skills and resilience forged through extraordinary challenges. When their rights are upheld, their contribution to society is immeasurable. As vividly demonstrated by their success stories -- from business and political leaders to bestselling authors and gold-medal Olympians -- past waves of refugees resettled from Thailand have become model citizens and contributors to their new communities.
But times have changed. Less than 1%of refugees around the world are now resettled. No longer a recipient of large-scale international aid, Thailand today is a middle-income country with far greater institutional capacity and regional influence. This progress brings new opportunities, including shaping refugee responses that are nationally-led, development-oriented, and better aligned with Thailand's long-term interests.
With this growth also comes the opportunity and responsibility to move beyond temporary arrangements towards more inclusive and durable approaches.
So as we commemorate 50 years of solidarity with refugees in Thailand, it is also a time to reflect on the challenges that remain. Traditional solutions, for both conflicts and the people displaced by them, are increasingly elusive. With no viable prospects for safe and voluntary return in the near future, this means moving beyond resettlement and focusing on empowering refugees to support themselves and make positive contributions to the communities that have hosted them for years.
Creating pathways for refugees to contribute to the workforce could help address demographic challenges and support economic growth. Thailand is facing an ageing population, while its young refugee communities remain largely excluded from formal employment.
At the same time, labour shortages persist in key sectors such as agriculture, construction, and food processing -- areas where many refugees already possess relevant skills. Establishing mechanisms for regularisation and skills certification could unlock this potential, helping to fill critical gaps while promoting social cohesion and long-term development.
As support continues for those affected by both longstanding and more recent displacement from Myanmar, it is essential to respond to the distinct needs of each group. For those who have lived in prolonged displacement for decades, this means developing sustainable approaches that promote inclusion and self-reliance, enabling them to contribute positively to their host communities.
For those who have more recently sought asylum, it means ensuring timely access to protection and humanitarian assistance in line with international standards.
Protecting refugees is not only a humanitarian imperative -- it also contributes to peace and stability across the region and in countries of origin. This was evident in the years following the Indochina crisis, when a coordinated international effort -- including the Royal Thai Government, UNHCR, and numerous global partners -- provided protection and solutions to hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
This spirit of cooperation was recognised in 1981 when UNHCR received the Nobel Peace Prize, not as a tribute to one organisation, but as a reflection of a broader collective response rooted in human dignity, responsibility-sharing, and regional stability.
A half-century of hospitality has shown what Thailand and the international community can achieve when solidarity guides collective action. Now is the time to build on that foundation -- to lay the groundwork for the next 50 years by ending protracted displacement and fostering a future where refugees are not defined by crisis, but by their contributions.
Let us work together to shape a new humanitarian spirit -- one that champions inclusion, dignity, and stability for all.
