Hundreds of foreign nationals rescued from scam compounds in Myanmar are facing dire conditions in a remote militia-run camp, with limited food, poor sanitation, and little access to medical care, detainees have told media. Many are also struggling to find a way back to their home countries.
The detainees, relocated to a camp run by Myanmar’s Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) near the Thai border, describe deteriorating conditions and uncertainty over their fate. According to two African nationals housed in the camp, approximately 470 people are crammed into inadequate facilities with insufficient resources.
“We barely eat twice a day. Sometimes just once,” said a 29-year-old man from a central African country. “The women don’t have access to sanitary pads, and there are only five restrooms for around 500 people.”
Another detainee, a 39-year-old man from East Africa, accused the DKBA of neglect. “We live like animals,” he said.
When approached for comment, DKBA official Saw San Aug defended the militia’s efforts, insisting they were trying to assist those rescued from scam centres. “We are doing our best, providing two meals a day,” he said, acknowledging the issue of insufficient toilets.
Scam Centres Under Scrutiny
The crackdown on scam centres—linked to transnational criminal gangs—intensified after the high-profile abduction of a Chinese actor in Thailand, who was later rescued from a compound in Myawaddy, southeastern Myanmar. Authorities from China, Thailand, and Myanmar have since launched a coordinated operation to dismantle illegal online scam operations that have trafficked thousands, according to the United Nations.
While some victims have been repatriated via Thailand, around 7,000 people remain stranded, including those in the DKBA camp near Chong Khaep on the Thai border.
No Funds for Repatriation
Images from the camp, shared by detainees, show filthy toilets, overflowing garbage, and men sleeping on bare floors. Meals consist of meagre portions of rice and vegetables served in foam containers.
Since Thai authorities restricted cross-border movement, only foreign nationals whose governments have arranged repatriation are being allowed entry. However, many detainees say their home countries are unable or unwilling to cover travel costs.
One detainee, who contacted his country’s embassy in China, was told he and his compatriots would need to arrange their own tickets. Another, who reached out to his embassy in Tokyo, said he received the same response. “I spent almost three months in the jungle,” he said, referring to his ordeal in a scam centre. “I have no financial support.”
Panic is growing among detainees who fear they may be returned to the very scam centres they were rescued from, where witnesses report widespread abuse, coercion, and torture.
“We don’t know what’s happening or when we’ll be allowed to leave this place,” said the 29-year-old detainee.
With no clear plan for repatriation, hundreds remain trapped in a desperate limbo, waiting for a way out.