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Estimate of Hmong influx triples to about
5,000
Associated Press
ST. PAUL - The estimated number of Hmong refugees from Thailand bound for
Minnesota has tripled to about 5,000 by year's end, a U.S. State Department
official said.
The new estimate would be more than triple the January estimate of about 1,600
refugees, based on patterns from past resettlement programs. This time, interest
in resettlement in Minnesota is much greater, and the approval rate for those
applying to resettle has been high.
"That's been consistent through the prescreening," Thayer said of the level of
interest in Minnesota. "Of course, that could change. But if it doesn't,
Minnesota could be seeing as many as 5,000 refugees coming here."
About 15,550 refugees at the Wat Tham Krabok camp north of Bangkok are eligible
for resettlement in the United States and are expected to begin arriving in late
June or early July.
Thayer spoke during a forum on the resettlement at Concordia University attended
by 75 people, mostly officials of state, local and nonprofit agencies that
assist refugees.
The number of refugees coming to Minnesota could equal those going to
California, the desired destination of a third of the refugees interviewed so
far, Thayer said. About 1,600 want to go to Wisconsin, while smaller numbers
have indicated they would go to North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Michigan,
Oregon and Washington state.
Interviews with the remaining refugees, living in a crowded shantytown on the
grounds of the Wat Tham Krabok temple should be done the week of June 21.
Refugees also are undergoing medical exams and security checks and will take
part in a weeklong cultural orientation program that begins next month.
Officials have booked 6,122 seats for refugees to travel to the United States,
Thayer said. The first several hundred should reach the United States in late
June. An estimated 1,000 to 1,200 will come in July, with 2,000 each in
September and August and 3,000 a month through the end of the year. The
goal of both U.S. and Thai officials is to have all the refugees out of camp by
the end of December so it can close.
Officials decided last week to have every refugee vaccinated against a battery
of infectious diseases, Thayer said. Medical records are incomplete and basic
medical care has been spotty, and an outbreak of 17 cases of chickenpox, mostly
among children, in the past five or six weeks raised concerns. Officials hope to
complete the vaccinations by the beginning of June. The shots will cost
$365,000.
"This is very unusual and it's very costly, but it's being done to ensure that
we don't have any epidemic that might slow down the movement of this
population," Thayer said. "This is something we can contribute to the receiving
host community. It's one less concern when registering children for school."
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Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press,
http://www.twincities.com