UK Must Double Aid to Burma

The Burma Campaign UK today called on the Department for International Development to double aid to Burma from next year, and to follow a Commons Committee recommendation to quadruple aid by 2013. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review on Tuesday 9th October, DFID can now allocate its budget for Burma for the next three years.

In July 2007 the International Development Committee published a damning report on DFID Burma aid policy. DFID is expected to respond to the report before 25th October 2007.

The MPs report called for a fundamental change in DFID’s Burma aid policy, including: A quadrupling of aid to Burma by 2013, taking aid from £8.8m to £35.3m a year.

Providing cross-border aid in addition to in-country aid, to ensure aid reaches internally displaced people who cannot be reached through in-country mechanisms because of restrictions imposed by the regime.

Funding projects promoting human rights and democracy, including exile based Burmese women’s groups and the trade union movement.

Setting up alternative mechanisms to provide funding for HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB in parts of the country that the 3D fund can’t reach because of restrictions by the regime.

Conduct a proper assessment of the needs of IDPs in Burma to ensure adequate delivery of aid.

Working with UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs to improve co-ordination of aid efforts, which are currently “done poorly.”

“There is too little UK aid to Burma, and it doesn’t reach some of the most vulnerable people in the county,” said Zoya Phan Campaigns Officer at the Burma Campaign UK. “The British government must ensure aid reaches those most in need, and if the regime blocks aid to people because of their ethnicity, then others ways to deliver aid must be found, such as delivering aid cross-border from neighbouring countries.”

In December last year the Burma Campaign UK published a report – Failing the people of Burma? – highlighting concerns with DFID’s Burma policy. DFID has refused to fund cross-border aid, which is the only way to reach some of the most vulnerable people in Burma, and despite ministers stating that the regime is responsible for Burma’s humanitarian crisis, has not funded projects targeted at promoting human rights and democracy in the country.

In a welcome initial move, the government last week announced an emergency increase in aid to Burma of £1 million.

For more information contact Mark Farmaner, Acting Director of Burma Campaign UK, on 02073244713.

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