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Press Release

09 January 2008

Douglas Alexander to meet Burmese refugees on Thai-Burma border

Burmese refugees in Thai campDouglas 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: external websitewww.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

 

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.

UK Support

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).