Thanks to Mark Farmaner for forwarding information about this interesting inquiry. Those MPs will find the weather much warmer in Thailand in May than in the UK!
[him] moderator
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I thought [him] readers might be interested in the following.
Submissions will be accepted on all subjects relating to DFID's assistance
to Burma - levels of funding, priorities for funding etc - not just relating
to IDPs and refugees. DFID currently spends half of its Burma budget on the
3D fund.
Mark Farmaner Acting Director Burma Campaign UK
28 Charles Sq London N1 6HT
Mobile: 0794 123 9640 Tel: 00 44 (0)207 324 4713 Fax: 00 44 (0)207 324 4717
E-mail mark.farmaner@burmacampaign.org.uk www.burmacampaign.org.uk
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Press Notice from International Development Committee - British Parliament
Press Notice 24, Session 2006-07
NEW INQUIRY
DFID ASSISTANCE TO BURMESE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE AND REFUGEES ON THE THAI-BURMA BORDER
Hundreds of thousands of Burmese people have left their homes since the
establishment of military government in Burma in 1962, leading to mass
displacement within Burma and into neighbouring countries. As in other cases
of displacement, Burmese internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees
face particular humanitarian and development challenges. UNHCR, the UN
refugee agency, has said about Burma: ^(3)Humanitarian needs are particularly
acute in border areas that have been plagued for decades by instability and
armed conflict.^(2)
The International Development Committee is launching an inquiry into UK
assistance to Burma^(1)s IDPs and refugees and will visit the Thai-Burma border
as part of the inquiry in May 2007.
According to UNHCR there are around 140,000 refugees on the Thai side of the
Thai-Burmese border, many of whom have been there for over 20 years. In
Burma itself, the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), an alliance of
non-governmental organisations (NGOs), estimates that the number of IDPs
near the Thai-Burma border was some 500,000 in 2006.
DFID funds work with both the IDPs and refugees. In Burma, DFID has provided emergency assistance to IDPs through community groups and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), although this was disrupted by the closure of ICRC field offices in Burma in late 2006. In Thailand, DFID
currently funds NGOs working with refugees on the border through a grant to
the TBBC of ?1.8 million over three years. The UK contributes around the
same amount again as its share of European Union support to the TBBC. DFID
had specified that UK aid should not be used for cross-border assistance
from Thailand into Burma. It announced a change of policy on assistance to
IDPs in a Written Ministerial Statement on 5 March. DFID has lifted
restrictions on cross-border assistance from Thailand and is increasing its
budget for work with IDPs.
The Committee invites interested organisations and individuals to submit
written evidence addressing any of the following points:
EUR The particular needs of IDPs in Burma and refugees in Thailand.
EUR The challenges faced in delivering aid and assistance to these groups.
EUR How different ethnic groups are affected by displacement.
EUR The likely trends in the region in terms of displacement, and development
and humanitarian needs.
EUR How donors can assist IDPs in Burma and refugees in Thailand most
effectively.
EUR The advantages and disadvantages of cross-border assistance compared to
other ways of assisting IDPs in Burma.
EUR The impact of DFID^(1)s policies towards Burma^(1)s IDPs and refugees.
******
The deadline for submitting written evidence is Friday 13 April 2007.
Evidence submitted should:
- if possible, be provided electronically in MS Word or Rich Text format,
either by e-mail to indcom@parliament.uk or on a disk. If submitted by
e-mail or e-mail attachment, a letter should also be sent validating the
e-mail. The letterhead should contain your full postal address and contact
details
- begin with a one page summary if it is longer than six pages
- have numbered paragraphs
- avoid the use of colour or expensive-to-print material.
Submissions can also be sent by post to International Development Committee,
House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London, SW1P 3JA.
Further guidance on the submission of evidence can be found at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/witguide.htm;
Material already published elsewhere should not form the basis of a
submission, but may be referred to within written evidence, in which case a
hard copy of the published work should be included.
Once submitted, evidence is the property of the Committee. The Committee
normally, though not always, chooses to make public the written evidence it
receives, by publishing it on the internet, by printing it or by making it
available through the Parliamentary Record Office. If there is any
information you believe to be sensitive you should highlight it and explain
what harm you believe would result from its disclosure. The Committee will
take this into account in deciding whether to publish or further disclose
the evidence. Please bear in mind that Committees are not able to
investigate individual cases.
It would be helpful, for Data Protection purposes, if individuals wishing to
submit written evidence send their contact details separately in a covering
letter. You should be aware that there may be circumstances in which the
House of Commons will be required to communicate information to third
parties on request, in order to comply with its obligations under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.
******
Further Information:
The membership of the Committee is as follows: Malcolm Bruce MP (Chairman,
Lib Dem), John Barrett MP (Lib Dem), John Battle MP (Lab), John Bercow MP
(Con), Hugh Bayley MP (Lab), Richard Burden MP (Lab), Mr Quentin Davies MP (Con), James Duddridge MP (Con), Ann McKechin MP (Lab), Joan Ruddock MP (Lab), Mr Marsha Singh MP(Lab).
Media Enquiries: Alex Paterson, 020 7219 1589 or patersona@parliament.uk
Detailed enquiries to Matthew Hedges, Second Clerk, or Chloe" Challender,
Committee Specialist, at indcom@parliament.uk
