US suspends IRC support; Thai governmentpledges to continue assistance
70
Phyo (NP News) - Jan 3
The new U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, informed foreign embassies on January 24 that all foreign aid development programs supported by the United States will be reviewed for expenses, and as a result, support for these programs will be suspended for 90 days. This decision was made by President Trump.
Following reports that foreign aid programs have been suspended, local news indicates that on January 27, health services provided by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) at refugee camps along the Thai border were halted.
Due to the suspension of services, starting from the morning of January 27, patients at the refugee camp along Thai-Myanmar border, except for those in critical condition, were instructed to leave the hospital, and new patients were no longer being accepted. This was confirmed by health officials providing services at the camp, who spoke with the KIC News Agency.
Additionally, health services have also been suspended at other refugee camps, including the Nohpo, Maela, and Ohnphyat, according to reports from the KIC News Agency. The Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) confirmed to the agency that, in addition to health services, waste management operations under the health department have also been halted at the refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been providing vital health services, including maternal and child healthcare, access to clean drinking water, and camp sanitation, at refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border.
However, shortly after this information was released, the Bangkok Post reported that the Thai government has committed to continuing healthcare services at the refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. Thai Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin confirmed on Tuesday (January 28) that the government will ensure ongoing healthcare support for the refugees, despite the temporary suspension of international aid.
The Bangkok Post reports that Sunai Phasuk, an adviser to Human Rights Watch in Thailand, shared a letter in Burmese on the X platform, stating: "Devastating! The suspension of foreign aid by the Trump administration has led to the closure of field hospitals in refugee camps." In response, Mr. Somsak assured that the Thai government would work on finding a solution to the issue.
He also added, "Although the Public Health Ministry is not the primary body responsible for refugees, when it comes to medical care, we must take care of them, regardless of who they are."
According to BBC, the United States is the world’s largest provider of foreign aid, having spent nearly 70 billion dollars on international assistance in 2023. A similar suspension of aid occurred in 2017 during President Donald Trump's first term, which led to significant impacts in border regions.