Thailand's central region is a rich agricultural area called Asia's rice bowl. The northeast is poor and suffers seasonal droughts or floods. The north has forested mountains and fertile valleys. Rain forest claims the south. Thailand's tropical climate is dominated by monsoons, high temperatures, and humidity.
Compassion works mainly among the Karen, Lisu, and Lahu tribes. The Karen of western Thailand live by wet rice farming, although some are mahouts, keepers and drivers of elephants, who work hauling logs in the teak forests. Many Karen are Christian. The Lisu live in remote villages at high altitudes, largely concentrated in northern Thailand. The Lahu, mountain people of northern Thailand, farm rice and maize and hunt with poisoned arrows.
Founded in the thirteenth century, Thailand is the only country in South and Southeast Asia never colonized by a European power. Since 1975, Thailand has provided asylum for refugees from Communist Indochina. For its aid, Thailand has received acclaim from international organizations supporting refugee relief.