Where does the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration work in the region?
In fiscal year 2009 (from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009), the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) provided humanitarian assistance and protection to vulnerable populations in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. In addition, the Bureau also monitors refugee, internally displaced persons (IDP) and statelessness issues throughout Southeast Asia on an ongoing basis.What are the major challenges for refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region?Lao Hmong from Petchabun and Nong Khai, Thailand: The Hmong are an ethnic group indigenous to Laos and other neighboring countries. Thousands of Hmong in Laos aided the CIA during “The Secret War” of the 1970s, and some groups have been in hiding from the Lao Government in the jungles for the last thirty years. Thousands of Hmong have also sought refuge in Thailand. On December 28, 2009, the Thai authorities forcibly returned to Laos 4,351 Lao Hmo
