Thailand and Myanmar have agreed to establish a task force to handle humanitarian assistance for both Thai and Burmese people living along the border, who are affected by the ongoing fighting in Myanmar.

Thailand has expressed hopes that Myanmar can resolve its ongoing internal conflicts peacefully, said Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara.

Parnpree emphasised that Thailand, as a neighbour of Myanmar, has been providing full support to facilitate the return of peace in the country.

Parnpree was speaking during a bilateral meeting with Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, Than Swe, on the sidelines of the 8th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) in Beijing.

The violence in Myanmar’s border regions has intensified, as an alliance of ethnic minority armies conducts coordinated attacks on the military, emboldening pro-democracy resistance fighters to target security forces elsewhere.

The United Nations estimates that more than 300,000 people have been displaced by the fighting since the rebel offensive began in late October, adding to the over 2 million who were forced to flee following a 2021 coup and crackdown, triggering a backlash against the junta.

In a statement, issued by the Thai Foreign Ministry, both countries agreed to collaborate on scaling up humanitarian assistance for people living along the Thai-Myanmar border, through a joint taskforce.

In the future, there is possibility that this could involve international organisations as well.

Parnpree also expressed appreciation for Myanmar’s assistance in the repatriation of Thai nationals from Laukkaing.