CAIP VISIT (2)
G
21ST OCTOBER 1985
Chiang Kham
(11,500 people)
This is very much a detention camp at the moment with a new 'hard line' Commandant who has stopped internal marketing making it difficult for Ockenden to arrange trading facilities for the Eilltribes, the situation may case as the new regime settles in and hopefully relaxes ite attitudes.
Speaking, in company with Steve Salmon, we were told by the resident UNHCR field officer BERNARD KERBLAT that there were some 84 handicapped people in the camp and around 170 unaccompanied minors (mostly teenage boys draft dodging or searching for 'greener pastures').
However, after talking to representatives for hedicine sans Frontiers it became clear that there is a need for programmes for the handicapped.
Operation Handicap International already operate such programmes in most major camps but cannot obtain funding for this particular project. There is a need initially for an expatriate specialist to train camp residents and local Thai in such projects which, as in other camps, could be extended to local Thai in need (indeed, I saw several cases in the villages).
UNICR are looking for a sponsor to fund this particular project.
kecommendation:-
That Ockenden look seriously at the possibility of fundin, this very worthwhile and cost-effective programme.
(C1).