Please print and send this letter to Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development.

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Andrew Mitchell MP
Secretary of State for International Development
DFID
1 Palace Street
London
SW1E 5HE

Dear Andrew Mitchell MP

I am writing to you regarding the severe cuts in cross-border aid and ration cuts in refugee camps on the Thailand Burma border.

As you are aware, hundreds of thousands of people have been internally displaced by conflict in Eastern Burma. There are also more than 100,000 refugees in camps on the Thailand Burma border.

In recent years a combination of cuts by the European Union, exchange rates and food prices has resulted in cross-border aid provided by the Thailand Burma Border Consortium reaching 50,000 less people than it used to, amounting to a 48 percent cut. As someone who has visited the Eh Htu Hta camp for internally displaced people, you are aware of how desperate their situation was then. Now many more people like those you met receive no aid at all. Visitors to Eh Htu Hta report the situation there is getting worse, and there are fears about rate of child malnutrition.

Refugees in camps on the Thailand Burma border have now had rations cut by 22 percent. Stunting as a result of child malnutrition is a real concern. These people have already been through so much. Now they not only have far less to eat, they also no longer receive supplies to build shelters, blankets and other essentials.

These vulnerable people cannot continue to be used as bargaining chips in arguments with the EU regarding not replacing reduced EU funding. Children and other vulnerable people are suffering too much as a result.

In opposition you pledged to increase aid to these vulnerable people. I am writing to you today to ask you to turn words into action. Burma has seen major increases in aid, which is most welcome. However, the vulnerable victims of conflict internally displaced in Eastern Burma, and in camps in Thailand, are not receiving a fair allocation.

I ask that you consider tripling the grant to the Thailand Burma Border Consortium in order to help these internally displaced people, and ensure no further ration cuts are imposed on refugees, resulting in growing malnutrition and other health problems. This is practical and measurable support which delivers results and makes a difference on the ground.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely


Download a Word version of this letter here.