Japan provides grant assistance for 9 refugee camps at the Thai-Myanmar border
The Government of Japan, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Scheme (GGP), is providing funds amounting to some 3,576,700 baht for the Project for Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) for all 9 Refugee Camps at the Thai-Myanmar border. On March 26, 2012, H.E. Mr. Seiji Kojima, Ambassador of Japan and Mr.Ben MENDOZA , Programme Director of the Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees(COERR), jointly signed the funding contract for the project at the Embassy of Japan.
The COERR, which was founded in 1978, mainly facilitates humanitarian development for vulnerable people. This project plans to establish fire stations at 9 refugee camps and in 10 neighbouring Thai villages where there is a high fire risk, and to launch community-based education and training on disaster prevention and protection.
Fire, flooding and landslides are the three biggest threats to these camps. Regarding the fire risk, the refugees’ shelters are basically made from bamboo and dead leaves, packed closely together. So, each time a fire takes hold, it spreads instantly to consume up to 40 or 50 shelters on average. That means about 300 refugees lose their homes. The situation is the same in the neighbouring Thai villages.
There have been no systematic measures to solve this issue over the past 25 years, although changes are urgently needed to make the dwellings safer. It is considered that community-based involvement will be the most effective way to promote and implement the necessary improvements.
The Government of Japan considers this project to be a promising model for disaster risk reduction in the 9 refugee camps, and decided to provide the grant assistance requested by the COERR on this basis. The grant is intended to promote solidarity among refugee communities and increase their motivation in disaster risk reduction, safety matters, and environmental protection.
The Government of Japan intends to continue supporting projects which contribute to community development through its Grant Assistance for Human Security Projects scheme (GGP).