Hmong Refugees Prepare For New Life In The U.S.

THAM KRABOK, THAILAND - AUGUST 8: Hmong refugee Xiong Khang, 6 years old and severely handicapped, sits in his family's home at Wat Tham Krabok refugee camp, on August 8, 2004 in Tham Krabok, Thailand. The Khang family is still waiting for their name to be on the list for a flight to the U.S.A, while some members of the family are leaving on the first charter flight on August 23rd. Thousands of Hmong refugees who fled Laos for Thailand 30 years ago are preparing for a new life in America after the U.S government announced it was launching a resettlement program for up to 15,000 Hmong living in a refugee camp northeast of Bangkok. The Hmong who often live on the margins of society in Thailand have had many problems with food, health and education because of lack of money. Since the migration started, almost 900 Hmong have departed to the USA in small groups on commerical aircraft. The medical screening, cultural orientation and movement of Hmong from Wat Tham Krabok camp northeast of Bangkok to the United States is being facilitated by the International Organization for Migration according to American standards and laws set in place by the U.S Department of State, U.S Refugee Admissions. The historical migration to the USA will finally close a painful chapter for many of the refugees who had sought safety in Thailand after the Vietnam war where as many as 40,000 Hmong were fighting for the Americans in Laos. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)