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 Douglas Alexander, the UK International Development Secretary, will meet
Burmese refugees who have fled the country’s military regime when he visits the
Mae Lae refugee camp - sheltering 45,000 Burmese people - on the Thai-Burmese
border on Thursday 10 January.
DFID announced a doubling of UK aid to Burma from £9 million to £18 million a year
by 2010 in October. The two-day visit to Thailand will allow Mr Alexander to see
for himself some of the work that DFID is doing on behalf of the UK public and
what more can be done for those escaping persecution and suffering under the
Burmese junta.
Looking forward to the visit, Douglas Alexander said:
“Thousands have fled their homes to escape persecution from the Burmese
military regime, seeking shelter in neighbouring countries, such as
Thailand. The UK is doing more than ever to help support the Burmese people
who are trying to live ordinary lives in extraordinary conditions until it’s
safe to return home.
“I’ll be seeing for myself the work that DFID is doing on behalf of the
UK public to tackle the urgent humanitarian needs on the Thai-Burmese
border. Also, the support we’re providing to ensure children can go to
school and people suffering from malaria, tuberculosis and HIV get the
treatment they need.
“My visit hopes to demonstrate the UK’s continuing support for the
Burmese people in their plight and to find out what more we can do to help.”
People in Burma’s border regions have suffered from decades of fighting
between ethnic armed groups and the Burmese army. Despite a ceasefire, fighting
continues between the military and some Karen, Karenni and Shan armed groups
along the Thai border, creating significant human suffering – 100,000 people
displaced in conflict areas inside Burma, 400,000 more in ceasefire and
government controlled areas, and 150,000 refugees in Thailand.
In addition to refugees fleeing from Burma’s ethnic conflicts, as a result of
the regime’s disastrous economic mismanagement there are also many economic
migrants from Burma living in Thailand. Mr Alexander will be meeting some of
Burma’s economic migrants when he visits a health clinic and school in the
border region.
In Bangkok, Mr Alexander will meet representatives from NGOs, minority groups
and others who work inside Burma helping to promote change.
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Notes to editors
1. UK aid to Burma has increased from £2 million a year in 2002 to £9 million today,
including an additional £1 million announced in early October to meet humanitarian
needs following the recent protests and their violent crackdown. See press
release: 'UK will double aid to fight poverty in
Burma' 2.
In October 2007, Gordon Brown made clear that if there is a process of genuine
political change and significant progress with reconciliation and democracy the
UK would be stand ready - alongside the international community - to support the
recovery of Burma with aid and other support. See:
 www.pm.gov.uk
3. Since the September protests, the UN has increased its political focus on
Burma - Professor Gambari, the Secretary General’s representative, has visited
twice and Burma has been discussed in the Security Council. The EU has
strengthened its sanctions regime.
4. DFID supports work fighting the three
major killer diseases: Malaria TB and HIV/AIDS in Burma and announced funding
for the Three Diseases Fund in August 2006. See press release:
'UK gives £20 million to save 1 million lives in
Burma'
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Related Links
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Fact Box
Burma |
- Population: 51,853,100.
- Poverty: 15 million (30%) estimated living below $1 (50
pence) a day.
- GDP per capita: $1,027.
- Life expectancy: 57.2 years.
- Literacy rates: 85.3%.
- Malnutrition: 7%.
- Government expenditure on health and education is only
$3.70 per person per year.
- 50% of children do not complete primary school.
- Diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria represent
serious public health challenges and kill many thousands of
people every year.
- Malaria deaths: 3,000 officially reported deaths in 2005
there but real number is certainly much bigger. This
accounts for more than 50 per cent of all malaria related
deaths in the whole of Asia.
- TB deaths: 12,000 each year.
- HIV infections: estimated 300,000 adults were infected
with HIV in 2004; 25,000 new infections each year.
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UK Support |
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The UK works with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and
the United Nations to help provide basic services for the poor,
including:
£20 million over five years to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and
Malaria; £4 million over four years for projects to help poor
rural households increase their incomes; £2.7 million over three years for early childhood care and
development; and £3.3 million over three years for basic education.
The UK provides funding for cross-border groups to provide
humanitarian assistance for poor people in Burma’s conflict-affected border areas.
- DFID (Department for International Development)
provides funding for the Thai Burma Border Consortium which
works with Burmese refugees in Thailand and provides
cross-border support to internally displaced people in Burma
(£1.9 million over three years including £100,000 agreed in
early December to meet an immediate funding gap).
- DFID provides support for cross-border health
programmes in remote areas on the China-Burma border (£1.35
million over four years).
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