1. **UNHCR - Myanmar
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, is concerned about
reports that between 10,000 and 30,000 refugees have fled Myanmar’s north-eastern Shan State in
recent weeks into China’s Yunnan Province.
UNHCR is currently liaising with the authorities to investigate what their needs are. The information
that the refugee agency received is that as many as 30,000 people may have taken shelter in Nansan
County since 8 August, and that they were fleeing fighting between Myanmar Government troops and
ethnic minority groups.
UNHCR says local authorities in Yunnan Province have already provided emergency shelter, food and
medical care to these refugees. The refugee agency reiterates its readiness to provide support to the
authorities in responding to the needs of these refugees.
Refugees reported fleeing fresh fighting in Myanmar
Briefing Notes, 28 August 2009
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text
may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 28 August 2009, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
We are concerned about reports that between 10,000 and 30,000 refugees have fled Myanmar's north-
eastern Shan State in recent weeks into China's Yunnan Province. We are liaising with the authorities
to investigate what their needs are.
Our information is that as many as 30,000 people may have taken shelter in Nansan County since 08
August, saying they were fleeing fighting between Myanmar government troops and ethnic minority
groups. We have been informed that local authorities in Yunnan Province have already provided
emergency shelter, food and medical care to the refugees.
China is one of the few countries in Asia to have signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and we
appreciate China's respect of the non-refoulement principle. UNHCR has reiterated its readiness to
provide support to the authorities in responding to the needs of these refugees.