This is a press release followed by a news article on a doubling of British official development assistance to Myanmar / Burma.
Hooray.
[him] moderator
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United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID)
Date: 30 Oct 2007
UK will double aid to fight poverty in Burma
The UK will increase its aid for the poorest people in Burma from £9 million this year to £18 million by 2010, announced Douglas Alexander, the Secretary of State for International Development, during a debate in the House of Commons yesterday
The announcement comes after peaceful protests led by monks and pro-democracy groups were suppressed by the military regime in September.
Reaching those most in need
Douglas Alexander said:
"We will not turn our backs on the Burmese people who have courageously stood up for their rights. The recent protests showed their deep frustration with the lack of political and economic opportunities in Burma. The UK Government, alongside the international community, will continue to put pressure on the Burmese government to embrace freedom.
"Doubling UK aid for Burma will allow us to help more children go to school, treat more people suffering from malaria, tuberculosis and HIV and tackle humanitarian needs. We will also continue to support civil society groups addressing the development needs of Burma. All our work is monitored carefully to ensure it reaches those most in need."
Douglas Alexander called on the regime to:
- Start genuine dialogue towards peace and reconciliation between the military, opposition groups and ethnic groups.
- Respect human rights;
- Be more accountable and responsive; and
- Ensure proper economic management of the country.
Mr Alexander added:
"The military regime must take this opportunity to embrace national reconciliation. If they are willing to undertake the fundamental reforms sought by their people then the international community will consider further financial and political support.”
This would be likely to include:
- A significant boost in international aid, perhaps through a multinational trust fund;
- Writing off some or all of Burma's international debt;
- Support through the UN for political reform, including free and fair elections; and
- Support for greater investment and trade promotion.
Life in Burma
Population: 52 million
Poverty: 15 million (30%) estimated living below $1 a day
GDP per capita: $1,027
Life expectancy: 57 years
Literacy rates: 85%
Malnutrition: 7%
Government funding for education: 0.3% of GDP
UK support
Basic services for the poor, including:
- £20 million over five years to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria;
- £2.7 milliion over three years for early childhood care and development; and
- £3.3 million over three years for basic education.
- £4 million over four years for projects to help poor rural households increase their incomes.
Our work is helping to make a difference:
- 48 million condoms were distributed in 2005 (four times the number distributed in 2000) in HIV and AIDS focused projects.
- 170,000 clients visited clinics for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections in 2005 (up from 106,000 in 2000).
- 1,100,000 clean needles and syringes were distributed for intravenous drug users in 2005 (more than double the number distributed in 2004).
The UK provides funding for cross-border groups to provide humanitarian assistance for poor people in Burma's conflict affected border areas.
- £1.8 million over three years for work to help meet the basic needs of Burmese refugees in Thailand, and to support cross-border assistance to internally displaced people in Burma.
The UK supports community-based organisations, including:
- £400,000 in 2007 for support to Internally Displaced People through community groups in eastern Burma;
- £500,000 over three years for grassroots level support to civil society organisations; and
- £3 million to support low level changes that give people more say in the decisions that affect their lives and help to build the foundations for democracy.
Notes to editors
1. The UK currently gives £8 million a year to fight poverty in Burma and to support civil society groups. In October DFID announced a one off contribution of £1 million to deal with the humanitarian situation following the protests. Over the next three years our aid for Burma will be:
2008/09 - £12 million (approx)
2009/10 - £15 million (approx)
2010/11 - £18 million
2. None of the UK's aid goes to the central government. Our current support and that announcement today will be delivered in a way consistent with the European Common Position - either through the UN or other reputable NGOs.
3. For further information about the UK's work in Burma please visit our website or if you are a member of the media contact the DFID press office on 00 44 (0) 20 7023 0600. Pubic enquiries should be direct to 0845 300 4100 (UK only), +44 (0) 1355 84 3132 (from outside the UK) or e-mail: enquiry@dfid.gov.uk
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LRON-78GJRT?OpenDocument
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Government bows to pressure to boost aid for Burma
Tania Branigan, political correspondent
Wednesday October 31, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
The government has promised to double the amount it gives in aid to Burma after coming under pressure from MPs, but will still provide only half the funding the Tories have pledged.
Douglas Alexander, the international development secretary, announced Britain's support for health, education and humanitarian support schemes would rise from £9m this year to £18m by 2010.
But the Conservatives immediately attacked the "disappointing" increase and pledged to raise aid four-fold if they won the next election, in line with the recommendation of a recent Commons report.
Andrew Mitchell, the shadow development secretary, said he was disappointed by the government's failure to act on the international development committee's advice and promised the Tories would quadruple funding by 2013.
He said: "Cambodia is receiving £12m; Vietnam, a country that is storming out of poverty, is receiving £52m from the British taxpayer; and China, which had a trade surplus last month of $24bn, is receiving £40m this year and, I think, next year. We do not think that that set of priorities is correct."
The GDP per capita is only $1,027 in Burma and 15 million of its 52 million citizens are believed to live on less than $1 a day.
All aid is delivered through the United Nations or non-governmental organisations rather than via the military regime, which last month suppressed peaceful protests by monks and pro-democracy demonstrators.
But the Conservatives point out that Department for International Development figures show Burma gets one of the lowest levels of international assistance. In 2002, it received £1 per person in 2002, 10 times less than EU aid to Zimbabwe.
Zoya Phan, an exiled Burmese human rights campaigner who works with the Burma Campaign UK, said he hoped the Tory commitment would "ramp up the pressure on Gordon Brown to do the right thing". Ministers argue that increasing funding must be done with care because of the problems in delivering aid when it cannot be channeled through the regime.
Mr Alexander said yesterday: "Doubling UK aid for Burma will allow us to help more children go to school, treat more people suffering from malaria, tuberculosis and HIV, and tackle humanitarian needs. We
will also continue to support civil society groups addressing the development needs of Burma. All our work is monitored carefully to ensure it reaches those most in need.
"The military regime must take this opportunity to embrace national reconciliation. If they are willing to undertake the fundamental reforms sought by their people, then the international community will consider further financial and political support."
That would be likely to include a significant increase in international aid, debt write-offs and support for trade and investment as well as backing for political reform.
This year's funding includes a one-off contribution of £1m to deal with humanitarian problems arising from the human rights protests.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,2202268,00.html
