Mae La Oon camp, located along the border between Thailand and Myanmar, is home to around 10,000 refugees who have fled the conflicts in Myanmar. Life in the camp is marked by uncertainty and scarce resources. As healthcare, education and job opportunities are often only made possible by international aid, many refugees are heavily dependent on this support. The camp's remote location adds to these challenges, restricting infrastructure and resources and making it highly vulnerable to natural disasters like floods and storms. Despite the hardships, the residents of Mae La Oon strive to create a sense of community and maintain hope for a better future.
Malteser International has played a crucial role in supporting these efforts, providing essential medical care, access to drinking water, medication, and equipment. Part of our activities is promoting dental health and hygiene within the camp’s schools, ensuring children like Saw have the tools they need to stay healthy. But our mission goes beyond immediate medical care; it is about building a long-term well-being. In addition to toothbrushes and toothpaste, children like Saw October Wah are also taught important hygiene practices such as hand washing. This teaches them from an early age how to protect themselves against diseases and infections caused by contamination or bacteria. Additionally, Malteser Internationals activities include training community members to become midwives, supporting pregnant women, and promoting healthy eating habits.
