US aid freeze triggers healthcare crisis on Myanmar-Thai border  

Medical care has been withdrawn from tens of thousands of Myanmar refugees in Thai border camps following the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid funding, which took effect on Tuesday.

The US State Department announced on Sunday that all foreign assistance via the department and US Agency for International Development (USAID) would be suspended for 90 days pending a review.

The aid suspension has so far forced hospitals to close in five refugee camps on the Thai-Myanmar border. According to Thai authorities, around 100,000 Myanmar refugees are housed in nine border camps. The camps are mainly run by the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

On Monday, authorities at Mae La refugee camp in Tak Province announced that IRC-run healthcare services would be suspended from Tuesday. Mae La is the largest of the border camps, with a population of over 34,000 people. The suspension covers both outpatient and inpatient treatment, reproductive and child health services, and other health departments.

A woman refugee at the camp said: “Camp officials just told us the hospital is temporarily closed. They didn’t mention how long it would be closed. Meanwhile, they said they would have a meeting to find a solution.”

The camp’s hospital discharged its patients on Monday and Tuesday, including those receiving oxygen and emergency treatment, according to a local health worker. It remains unclear how authorities will continue to provide healthcare services to critical patients, she added.

Tak is home to tens of thousands of mainly Karen refugees across three border camps, many of whom fled the ongoing conflict in Karen State, which escalated after the 2021 coup triggered a widespread armed uprising.

The hospitals at Tak’s two other refugee camps – Umpiem Mai and Nu Po – have also closed.

A Karen man who has contact with refugee camps said: “Announcements were made inside the camps that the hospitals are no longer accepting patients. Camp officials and Thai authorities are holding emergency meetings. Arrangements are being made to transfer some critical patients and pregnant women to the public hospital in a nearby town.”

The Irrawaddy contacted officials at Umpiem camp and the Karen Refugee Committee, who responded that they were still holding meetings on the matter.

Following the sudden closure of refugee clinics, volunteers are helping send women in labor and emergency patients to external hospitals, according to a Karen camp volunteer.

“I am also helping as much as I can, mainly by assisting women to get to hospital for emergency childbirths,” she said.

Although emergency cases are being transferred, patients with chronic illnesses and medication needs are reportedly being denied treatment at external hospitals because they lack documentation or money.

Dr Cynthia Maung, founder of the Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot, told The Irrawaddy that her clinic is still operating but its services could be threatened by the US funding cut in the long run.

“We don’t depend solely on aid from the US, so the clinic is still open. But we will need to prioritize which services should be kept going and which should be dropped later,” said she.

Her clinic has provided free healthcare for refugees, migrant workers, and others from Myanmar since 1989. It houses a 100-bed hospital and currently treats 400-500 outpatients daily.