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BACKGROUND For more than 50 years the Karen people of Burma have been fighting for their rights and the freedom to occupy their homeland. To escape persecution by the Burmese military regime about 120,000 Karen people have fled across the Thai border since 1980. They live in seven overcrowded refugee camps, where international non-government organisations (NGOs) provide basic rations, health care and school materials. In addition to living constantly with fear, refugees' problems in the camps include unemployment, domestic violence, malnutrition and possible attack by the Burmese army or forced repatriation. Remaining in the Karen State are an estimated 200,000 internally displaced people (IDP) who have been forced to flee their villages. Hiding in the jungle they face the threat of death, rape, forced labour and resettlement by the Burmese army. This conflict has also impacted on other ethnic minority groups such as Chin, Lahu, Shan and also ethnic Burmans. It has been estimated that two million people have been displaced by this war and other contributing factors such as the cyclone in 2008.
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