Cambodian Refugee Camps in Thailand
Khao-I-Dang
Khao-I-Dang was built around 30 kilometers north of Aranyaprathet and about 15 kilometers from the Cambodian border. It was built as a center for “illegal Cambodian entrants” to Thailand pending their resettlement in third countries or return to Cambodia. It was constructed after Vietnam took over Cambodia in January, 1979, and was opened on November 21, 1979 and closed Nov. 21, 1979. Khao-I-Dang was the oldest and most enduring camp on the border. It opened Nov. 21, 1979 and closed in 1992. During its peak period in 1979-1985, Khao I Dang was sometimes the equivalent of Site II in population but the population was would change frequently. In July of 1993 it had a population of 136,000. Some people went to third countries, some only seeking shelter until they could see what the future would bring. There is a hospital, theater, temple and Christian church. The new arrivals construct their own huts.
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Nong Samet (“New” camp) and Nong Chan
Nong Samet was built about 30 kilometers north of Aranyaprathet. The camp is also known as “New Camp,” “007,” and “Rithisen.” It is situated close to the border and parts may actually be on the Cambodian side. The populations of escapees in the camp has fluctuated between 40,000 and 100,00. UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and various Volags have helped to provide medical care, supplementary food, and educational and social services.
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“Old” Camp
Old camp is about five kilometers north of Aranyaprathet, was set up before 1979 for early Cambodians fleeing from the Khmer Rouge. This was one camp, among others nearby, from which about 40,000 refugees were forcibly taken in June, 1979, by Thai Military trucks up the mountains to the temple of Preah Vihear, and forced across the border to the Cambodian side. There were many deaths from thirst, starvation, and land mines as refugees made their way down the mountain to the central highways where many turned west for another attempt to get to Thailand.
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Sakeo I and II Sakeo I and II was placed about 50 kilometers west of Aranyaprathet. The camp was set up for Khmer Rouge military, supporters, and camp followers and had a population of about 25,000. These were moved to Sakeo II and there were movements between these two camps and KID in the following months, as the narrators in this study will attest.
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Site 2 Containing more than 150,000 displaced persons, Site 2 was for over a decade the largest camp for displaced Cambodians along the Thai border. From as early as 1988, the Thai government, the United Nations, and numerous voluntary agencies had acknowledged that immediate action was needed to remedy the deteriorating social and psychological conditions in Site 2 and the other border camps. There were many conducted household surveys to measure the extent of trauma, the physical and mental health symptoms, and the relative disability of the adult community living in the camps. findings to continue the evaluation of the psychosocial impact of mass violence on this civilian refugee population.
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