A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Insitute of Technology, 2023

Although scholars have studied the connection between refugees, host communities, and government actions in order to understand refugee livelihood factors, the majority of the research has been conducted in Europe and North America. Existing researches regarding developing countries and their perspectives on refugees, particularly in Southeast Asia, are limited. This study focuses on challenges within the Koung Jor refugee camp in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where Shan state refugees have been residing, in order to address this knowledge deficit and gain insights into Myanmar refugees. The absence of legal legitimacy for the camp presents significant difficulties. This researcg is guided by three objectives: (1) analyzing factors affecting refugee livelihood security, (2) exploring local community attitudes towards refugees, and (3) proposing practical measures to enhance conditions and relationships. Employing a mixed- method approach that combines qualitative and quantitative analysis enhances the depth and scope of the study.For the first objective, the thematic analysis obtaining data from semi- structured interview and field observation- found that all of the cross-border governance system, local support capacity, and local acceptance level have a significant impact on the refugees{u2019} livelihood security in the Koung Jor refugee camp. The complex bureaucratic processes of the cross-border governance system, the inability to keep up with potential donors for the necessary refugee supports, and the minimal participation of locals with refugees all contribute to a negative public sentiment, making financial assistance and external support more difficult to obtain. Regarding the second objective, a Logit Model analysis was carried out on a survey of 198 Koung Jor locals, of which the poll had undergone reliability tests from the item objective congruence (0.90) and Cronbach{u2019}s Alpha (0.821). Age, ethnicity, occupation, income, and the length of time living around refugees were all found to have a significant influence on their attitudes towards this displaced community, in particular when it came to security issues. Those with younger ages, farmers, and those with longer years of the acquaintance with Koung Jor refugees had significantly greater impression of these displaced folks.The last objective investigated the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of practical livelihood interventions including participatory, holistic, and partnership approaches. The findings revealed that a participative strategy was appropriate for tackling a specific issue from the bottom up, and that holistic intervention implementing relevant institutional strengths should be considered. When cross- disciplinary collaboration was required, the partnership technique was recommended. Finally, the findings suggested that establishing a local taskforce to assist with refugee interventions, encouraging local organizations to develop long-term relationships with potential donors, and utilizing capital assets as proactive strategies could support refugees{u2019} livelihood development despite inadequate recognition.