Irrawaddy-Dec 9
As the number of people displaced by armed conflict surges in Myanmar, Thailand announced that it will create a joint task force with Myanmar to oversee humanitarian assistance for people displaced by fighting along their shared border, Thai media reported. The announcement was made by Thailand shortly before the United Nations estimated that more than half a million people had been displaced in Myanmar due to the escalation of armed conflict since late October. Recent clashes have made the need for humanitarian aid greater while at the same time making it more challenging to deliver aid, the UN said. The Thai Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that both countries agreed to work together to increase humanitarian assistance for people living along the Thai-Myanmar border “in line with ASEAN’s five-point consensus.” Thai-language news outlet The Standard Co reported that the country’s foreign ministry said it hopes the plan will lead to constructive engagement between Myanmar, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community as the plan is consistent with the implementation of the ASEAN’s five-point consensus for Myanmar. Intense fighting has been reported in Myanmar’s border regions after an alliance of ethnic armed groups launched coordinated attacks on the junta on Oct. 27 in northern Shan State. Operation 1027, which is named after the date it was launched, inspired resistance forces to launch coordinated attacks against junta targets in other areas of Myanmar. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/myanmars-crisis-the-world/thailand-myanmar-to-form-joint-task-force-to-cope-with-war-refugees.html
