This project provides emergency care and accommodation to those in need in the poor regions of North Thailand, in the Refugee Camps on the Thai-Burma Border and care for families and patients who travel from rural areas to the major regional hospitals in Northern Thailand.

During 2009 Effective Aid International is extending this area of our work, particularly in the Refugee Camps. We are currently utilising more than 70 Social Workers in three of the Refugee Camps to assist in any way possible the elderly, sick, disabled and traumatised. Our workers are constantly providing a wide range of care that extends from trauma counsel, dietry assistance and health education, right through to rebuilding and repairing temporary housing for refugees unable to work themselves.

 

We also recently participated in a major effort to bring emergency aid to the residents of Ei Tu Hta Refugee camp. This camp situated on the Burmese side of the Salawin River is providing safety to more than 4000 Karen Ethnic people who have recently fled for their lives from attacks by the Burmese military. Effective Aid International purchased blankets for these people who were suffering from cold due to the unusually severe winter in the region.

 

The recent escalation of the persecution of minority groups in Eastern Burma has resulted in thousands of new arrivals in Thailand. Many are living as illegal migrants and others have settled in two new temporary camps close to the border. Effective Aid International has had workers on the ground providing emergency relief to these new arrivals. Donations from our Mercy House Fund have joined with those of similar organisations partnering in the region to provide food, tarpaulins for shelter, sleeping mats, water and clothing to many who have fled their villages with little more than the clothes they were wearing.

One of these new temporary camps was visited in August 2009 by Effective Aid International Chairman, Ian Aitchison to assist us in assessing how we can best provide longer term solutions for these people. During his visit, clothes and emergency food were delivered to families in the camp.

 

Currently we have two Mercy Houses - one adjacent to the huge Nakornping Hospital in Chiangmai that caters to the many tribal people who live in remote villages in the mountainous regions of North Thailand. A second Mercy House is situated adjacent to the busy hospital in Maela Refugee Camp. This hospital is run by a medical NGO, with nursing staff overworked, the hospital overcrowded and the responsibility of provision of meals resting with the families of patients. As well as accommodation for families of patients we are providing a kitchen for food preparation and a respite centre for busy nursing staff when they need a break.

 

Care and accommodation is provided free of charge to the families of patients, people awaiting admissions (eg expectant mothers), out-patients and also people discharged from hospital but still requiring care or simply not strong enough to make the sometimes long and difficult journey back to their village in the hills.

 

These houses are staffed by competent and caring people, with an on the job training program established to better equip them for any emergency that may arise.

 

The Chiangmai Mercy House provides approximately 500 nights of accommodation per month.

 

The Maela Refugee Camp Mercy House, not only provides assistance to hospital patients and their families, but also provides all the camp's new mothers with nourishing meals for the first days after them giving birth and baby blankets and mosquito nets to all the newborn babies. Statistics in Maela Camp currently show an average monthly birth rate of 80 babies.

 

Funds are needed on a regular basis for rent, staffing costs, training, food and building improvement.

 

To donate to Effective Aid International’s Mercy House project please click here.