Thai authorities said on the 7th that a young Saudi woman had been stopped while trying to flee from Thailand to Australia for asylum and had left Bangkok airport and was now under the care of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), according to US media reports.
"she is currently under the care of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and we have sent Thai security personnel to help take care of her," said Surachet, director of the Thai Immigration Service. He said the Saudi citizen, Rahaf Mohamed Kunon, would not be forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia.
The 18-year-old fled from Kuwait with her family and arrived at Suffanab airport in Bangkok on the evening of the 5th, the report said. Kunon locked herself in the airport hotel room and tweeted on the 7th asking for permission to meet with United Nations officials. In an earlier video, Kunnon was seen pacing the hotel room, saying she just wanted to live.
After announcing that she would not be forcibly repatriated, Kunnon tweeted that she felt safe "under the protection of UNHCR." UNHCR says U. N. officials need about five to seven days to assess her situation.
"Thailand is a smiling country and we will not let anyone die," Surachet, director of Thailand's Immigration Department, told reporters. (old man)
