The closure of the field offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Burma means that ICRC will be unable to carry out its vital assistance and protection work with civilians affected by conflict between the Burmese Army and the ethnic armed groups. We are extremely concerned that this will increase the vulnerability of these civilians. We are also very concerned that since December 2005, ICRC has had to halt its programme of prison visits because it has been unable to carry them out according to its standard operating procedures. We believe that the ICRC’s transparent, neutral and principled approach to aid delivery is the right one: respect for the humanitarian principles by donors, implementers and the authorities is crucial for the effective delivery of aid. The Burmese authorities’ treatment of ICRC is a cause for profound concern for all agencies supporting humanitarian assistance in Burma.
I have made a public statement condemning the closure of the field offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Burma, pointing out that it is the poorest who will suffer, calling on the Burmese authorities to reconsider their decision, and emphasising the importance of donors, non-governmental organisations and the Burmese authorities in respecting the international humanitarian principles for the delivery of assistance. The British embassy in Rangoon has sent my statement to the Ministers of Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Health, Labour, and National Economic Planning and Development. British Officials will continue to take all opportunities to raise with the Burmese authorities the importance of ICRC’s work and to call for the reopening of its offices, and will remain in close contact with ICRC on the developing situation.