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Burma (Internally Displaced People)

Volume 457: debated on Monday 5 March 2007

The Government are extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Burma, and are committed to increasing the amount of aid reaching vulnerable people affected by conflict.

The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises the importance of improving information-sharing and coordination between groups working from Thailand and those working inside Burma in supporting internally displaced people (IDPs). I welcome the fact that a UN humanitarian co-ordinator has been designated for Burma and that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will strengthen its office in Bangkok so that it can play a more active role in support of work in eastern Burma. DFID will participate fully in this coordination process.

DFID has found that community based groups working inside Burma are best able to reach some of the conflict areas, and many of the 400,000 internally displaced people living at the edge of the conflict. Assistance by these groups inside the country complements assistance coming across the border.

While several Governments fund cross-border work, the UK is the only country funding the community-based groups inside Burma. Therefore we have decided to increase the level of DFID’s support to those groups and have committed £400,000 in 2007.

DFID acknowledges the importance and value of cross-border aid, especially in supporting many of the 100,000 internally displaced people living in conflict areas in eastern Burma. In response, DFID will remove the existing restriction on the use of its funds in this way.

Copies of the Paper on DFID “Assistance for Burmese Refugees and Internally Displaced People” will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.