Myanmar Border Camp: Pregnant Victims Cry for Help
Over 2,400 individuals rescued from exploitative scam operations in Myanmar are languishing in a border camp under dire conditions, highlighting the devastating human cost of Southeast Asia’s burgeoning criminal networks. Eleven pregnant women among them urgently require medical attention, according to the Citizens Network for Human Trafficking Victims. This precarious situation underscores the complex challenges facing authorities attempting to dismantle these criminal enterprises and repatriate victims.
The plight of these vulnerable women, trapped in a camp run by the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), is increasingly critical. Jay Kritiya, a coordinator for the Citizens Network for Human Trafficking Victims, described the camp’s harsh realities: inadequate healthcare, insufficient food, and substandard living conditions. Tragically, one pregnant woman suffered a miscarriage two days before Kritiya’s March 21, 2025 statement to Reuters. Disturbingly, local media reports suggest some pregnancies resulted from sexual assault during captivity in the scam call centers.
These scam operations, often targeting vulnerable individuals with promises of employment, represent a significant and growing problem across Southeast Asia. The United Nations identifies these networks as generating billions of dollars annually through fraudulent activities, relying heavily on trafficked individuals forced into servitude. Thailand, leading a regional effort to dismantle these operations along its borders, has coordinated the repatriation of 7,372 people of approximately 20 nationalities from Myanmar-based scams, many of whom are Chinese nationals. As of March 21, over 2,400 remained at the border awaiting repatriation, according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The DKBA, while acknowledging providing care to most camp residents, admits to limited resources and stresses the urgent need for medical assistance for pregnant women and others requiring care. They formally requested that Thai authorities transfer these vulnerable individuals to Tak province across the border. This request was relayed to all relevant Thai authorities by the National Human Rights Commission on March 19.
The challenge facing regional authorities is daunting. Pol Gen Thatcher Pitaneelaboot, an inspector-general with the Royal Thai Police leading Thailand’s anti-scam operations, estimates approximately 100,000 individuals remain entangled in scam centers along the Thai-Myanmar border. However, preliminary investigations suggest a significant portion of those rescued initially joined voluntarily, highlighting the complexity of disentangling victims from perpetrators and the allure of perceived opportunity masking the harsh reality of exploitation.
The situation at the border camp underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and increased resources to address the complex web of human trafficking and criminal activity fueling these scam operations. The immediate priority is the well-being of the stranded individuals, particularly the pregnant women, who require urgent medical intervention and support. The long-term challenge lies in dismantling the networks and addressing the root causes of vulnerability to exploitation, preventing future tragedies.
