Humanitarian Relief & Community Support Project

The project's roots go back to 1984, when construction of the Khao Laem Dam submerged hundreds of square kilometres of land in Kanchanaburi Province, displacing entire villages and destroying homes and farmland. Around the same time, Karen families were fleeing violence in Myanmar and crossing the border into Thailand with nothing. When Baan Unrak's founder arrived in Sangkhlaburi and witnessed this hardship firsthand, she began collecting and delivering food, blankets, medicine, soap, and clothing between Sangkhlaburi and Bangkok, the beginning of what is now nearly 35 years of continuous humanitarian support in the region.

Many families in these remote communities still face poverty, food insecurity, disability, and chronic health problems, made worse by geographic isolation that limits access to basic supplies and medical care. Elderly people, widows, and parents raising young children alone are especially at risk.

Today, the project reaches 32 households through monthly deliveries of rice, oil, beans, and other food staples alongside hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, and detergent. Trained outreach staff, several of whom grew up at Baan Unrak themselves, conduct home visits to assess each household's needs, connect people to medical referrals and counselling, and prioritise those most at risk. This continuity of local, culturally grounded relationships is central to how the project works.

Reduce hardship and improve the well-being of 32 highly vulnerable households by providing consistent monthly humanitarian support.

• Deliver 12 monthly aid packages to all 32 households over the project year.
• Provide basic medical support, counselling, and referrals to vulnerable individuals during monthly home visits.
• Conduct monthly household assessments to track needs, safety conditions, and priority cases.
• Keep vulnerable households connected to supportive community structures through consistent follow-up and accessible services.

32 households (137 individuals) across remote rural villages in Sangkhlaburi District, primarily of Karen and Myanmar ethnicity. Households include (households may fall into more than one category):

• Elderly: 59%
• No income: 94%
• Widow / single parent: 44%
• Chronic illness: 28%
• Disability: 19%
• Isolated area: 6%

Indirect beneficiaries include extended family members, neighbours, and the wider community, who benefit from improved household stability and Baan Unrak's continued presence as a trusted humanitarian provider in the region.