Doctors Without Borders to end its operation in Thailand

BANGKOK, 4 October 2011 (NNT) – The Doctors Without Borders organization has announced its decision to end its humanitarian mission in Thailand, citing problems with the Thai government.

According to the announcement, the organization will close its two medical centers in Samut Prakan and Kanchanaburi provinces which have offered healthcare to more than 55,000 Burmese refugees. All of its staff will also be pulled out of the country, and there will not be any activities by the organization here anymore.

The Doctors Without Borders organization’s spokesperson revealed that the organization had to halt its operation in Thailand due to conflicts with government officials. The spokesperson added that the organization’s medical center in Samut Prakan province had been told to limit the scope of their humanitarian mission.

Still, the spokesperson said a new mission in Thailand was possible in an urgent case or upon request. The Doctors Without Borders organization has launched its operation in the country since 1975. Seventy staff members are stationed here.