Following the successful handover of humanitarian assistance for the Myanmar people from the Thai Red Cross Society to the Myanmar Red Cross Society on 25 March 2024 at the 2nd Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, Mae Sot, Tak Province in Thailand, the convoy carrying 4,000 relief bags for approximately 20,000 people arrived safely at the three pilot areas in Kayin State, namely Nabu, Paing Kyong and Thamanya.
On 26 March 2024, these relief bags were distributed to the internally displaced persons who fled from various areas affected by armed conflict and are now seeking refuge at these locations. The distribution was carried out by representatives of the Myanmar Red Cross Society with leaders of local Karen communities. Also present as witnesses were representatives from the local government and a local civil society organisation.
The distribution was remotely observed by the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon with technical support provided by the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) to ensure effectiveness, credibility and transparency.
This pilot project of the cross-border humanitarian initiative symbolises the goodwill from the Thai people to the Myanmar people of all backgrounds without discrimination. Its success was a result of the close cooperation between the Thai and Myanmar Red Cross Societies, with the full support of relevant Thai and Myanmar agencies and local communities on both sides of the border, including ethnic groups in Kayin State, all of whom worked towards the common goal of helping the people in need. (MFA)
