The Thai government has announced its preparedness to construct shelters along the border to accommodate refugees should the conflict in Myanmar escalate further.
Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara confirmed this readiness on Sunday, stating that the government is closely monitoring the situation in Myanmar.
He urged all concerned parties to cease hostilities and engage in negotiations promptly.
“In the current circumstances, it’s unlikely that we’ll see an influx of refugees. However, if the violence escalates, we may witness refugees fleeing in various directions, not just towards Thailand,” the foreign minister stated.
Parnpree also noted that there have been no reports indicating a proxy war in Myanmar.
Fighting between Myanmar government forces and ethnic troops erupted in Myawaddy, Karen State, on Saturday, leaving many businesspeople and cargo trucks stranded in the border town.
The battlefield was approximately 10 km from Mae Sot district in Thailand’s Tak province, which shares a border with Myanmar.
Lieutenant General Prasarn Saengsirirak, commander of Thailand’s 3rd Army, stated that the ongoing situation in Myanmar had not yet affected Thailand.
However, he assured that if refugees crossed the border, they would receive humanitarian assistance.
Thai soldiers were stationed to safeguard the nation’s territory, and the Myanmar junta was collaborating to prevent any encroachment onto Thai soil.
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