To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to provide famine relief in Chin state, Western Burma in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. (281989)

In September 2008, the Department for International Development (DFID) approved a grant of £600,000 for emergency aid for people in Chin State suffering from food shortages as a result of rat infestations. In March this year, we increased our funding to £880,000 in response to further needs assessments. The aid is delivered through the United Nations Development Programme, the World Food Programme and their local partners. About 65,000 people have now benefited from it. We continue to keep the situation under close review. We are also considering, in consultation with the United Nations and other donors, how best to address longer-term food security needs in Chin State and other parts of Burma.