Thailand — humanitarian situation

Thailand continues to host a protracted refugee population of Myanmar displaced persons along the Thai-Myanmar border, concentrated in nine temporary shelters that have evolved from emergency arrangements established over four decades ago (UNHCR, UNCT Thailand, CCSDPT). On 17 June 2026, the Royal Thai Government began issuing official non-Thai identity cards to refugees in these shelters, formally recognizing them as "Myanmar Displaced Persons" in what UNHCR describes as a landmark step towards inclusion, protection, and self-reliance for one of the world's most protracted refugee populations. This development comes as humanitarian actors acknowledge that parallel assistance and service delivery systems in the border shelters are increasingly misaligned with Thailand's development trajectory and becoming financially unsustainable amid declining humanitarian funding. The regional context presents mounting challenges for Thailand and neighboring countries. An El Niño event is very likely from mid-2026, with most forecasts indicating at least moderate strength and a strong event increasingly possible (IASC, IFRC, OCHA). This climate pattern arrives amid record global temperatures and is expected to produce predictable but potentially severe seasonal weather impacts across Asia and the Pacific, with implications for agricultural production and food security (FAO, OCHA, WFP). During the week of 15-21 June 2026, the ASEAN region recorded 30 disaster events including droughts, earthquakes, floods, landslides, storms, and wind-related incidents, with Thailand among the affected countries (AHA Centre). The appeal for sustainable solutions covering June 2026 through December 2030 highlights the need to transition from emergency-based arrangements to more durable approaches for refugees in Thailand (UNCT Thailand, UNHCR, CCSDPT). The issuance of identity documentation represents a critical foundation for this transition, potentially enabling greater self-reliance and inclusion for displaced persons who have remained in temporary shelter arrangements for extended periods. Regional mixed migration patterns continue across Asia-Pacific, with IOM tracking intraregional movements through April 2026.