Citizenship and Immigration Canada will accept 810 Burmese Refugees

Monte Solberg the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in Ottawa announced yesterday that Canada will accept 810 predominantly Karen refugees from the Mae La Oon camp in Mae Hong Son, Thailand. This announcement coincides with World Refugee Day, June 20th, 2006. These refugees have been labled as “high priority” by the United Nations Refugee Agency.

The relocation of these refugees will begin in August and should be completed by early 2007. Ten communities across Canada will welcome these refugees.

“We look forward to helping them rebuild their lives and join our society” Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Monte Soldberg was quoted as saying.

Canada’s acceptance of the refugees is part of a scheme first tested in 2003 whereby individuals do not have to undergo status interviews by Canadian immigration and are immediately considered as part of a wider vulnerable group.

In addition to Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the Netherlands are countries who have agreed to accept Karen refugees from Thailand.

The Karen Women’s Organization wishes to remind the international community on this World “Refugee Day” of Karen’s plight, stating the current number of internally displaced people in Karen State is approximately 15,000 and more importantly this is the highest since 1985.


Alice Daghavarian, Director of Immigration Services.