Thailand is preparing to open a humanitarian corridor within the next month to provide aid to civilians affected by the conflict in Myanmar, according to Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara.
After inspecting the planned staging area in the border town of Mae Sot, Parnpree emphasized the importance of the corridor in alleviating the suffering of those impacted by the conflict and fostering dialogue for a peaceful resolution.
Last month, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) endorsed Thailand’s proposal for a humanitarian corridor, which will involve the Thai and Myanmar Red Cross delivering supplies to those in need under the observation of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.
The corridor will primarily target local communities and around 20,000 people displaced by the conflict, which has escalated since the military seized power three years ago. However, this aid represents only a fraction of the 2.6 million people currently displaced across Myanmar, with approximately 2.3 million being displaced since the coup.
Despite the involvement of Myanmar’s military administration, the humanitarian corridor is a crucial step toward providing aid to those in need, although it may not be accessible to populations in areas controlled by resistance groups.
Some have expressed concerns that aid shipments could be redirected or misused by the military, which continues attacks on these areas, leading to further civilian casualties and displacement.
Overall, the Thai plan has been criticized for potentially reinforcing the flaws of ASEAN’s peace plan by treating the military administration as a legitimate partner for peace, despite its actions suggesting otherwise.