Help Protect Refugees in Thailand – Your Support Makes a Difference
Thailand is home to more than 81,000 refugees in nine temporary shelters along the Thai-Myanmar border and 5,500 urban refugees and people seeking asylum living in cities like Bangkok or Chiangmai, primarily from Myanmar. In the absence of a legal framework to support refugees, forcibly displaced people in Thailand live without official legal status, which results in facing overwhelming challenges: no right to work, no access to public healthcare or education, and the constant risk of arrest and deportation. At Asylum Access Thailand, we’re working to change that.
Last year alone, we provided critical legal support to thousands of people seeking refuge and protection in Thailand. Our legal clinics and community outreach programs have supported hundreds of families, giving them the guidance they need to navigate the asylum process and avoid unlawful detention.
But our work goes beyond the numbers. Refugees like Aye*, who fled Myanmar with her young son, found themselves in a state of limbo. Lacking legal status, Aye lived in fear of deportation. Thanks to Asylum Access, she received the support she needed to file for asylum, and we continue to fight alongside her for her right to safety and security.
Despite the progress we’ve made, the fight is far from over. Thousands more like Aye can still benefit from your support. The barriers remain high: refugees are forced into informal, exploitative work, and families fall into debt due to a lack of access to affordable healthcare. Refugee children face an uncertain future without access to education.
With your support, we can continue to provide free legal aid and advocate for increased protections for these communities. Every donation makes a direct impact—ensuring that more families can live in safety, gain access to the resources they need, and start rebuilding their lives.
Will you join us in this mission? Your solidarity today can change lives.
Donate now to make a real difference for refugees in Thailand.
Here are just a few examples of what Asylum Access Thailand has been able to achieve over the last year:
2,291 people benefitted from the work of our team in Thailand, including free legal assistance and community outreach
20 community interpreters who participated in our training programs are now supporting their community members’ access to asylum and vital services in 19 languages
78 people were able to access psychological first aid, including art therapy and online counseling led by our trained refugee volunteers
We find solutions together with refugees so they can access their rights. We help families use their skills to earn a living, we share information so they know and use the law, and we represent them during the refugee status determination process. We are shaping an inclusive environment to enhance their protection and well-being in Thailand
Mukhzan* fled Pakistan after facing persecution as a member of a minority group. He sought safety in Bangkok, where he has been seeking asylum for 11 years, 5 of which he spent in detention. “There was no one to guide me, and I had no knowledge about seeking asylum,” he recalls about his arrival. His experiences inspired him to support others facing similar struggles. Now a community guide with Asylum Access Thailand, he helps newcomers navigate the asylum process. “We need to guide each other,” he says, “to make sure no one has to face the same uncertainty.”
