§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her international colleagues concerning humanitarian aid to Burma via non-governmental organisations. [117608]
§ Clare ShortMy Department is working to promote a more coherent and consistent approach by the international community. This issue is a central element of this Government's discussions with their international partners about policy towards Burma.
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§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made concerning the transmission of hydroelectric power produced in Karenni state to Rangoon. [117290]
§ Clare ShortMy Department has made no representations on the issue of transmission of hydroelectric power in Burma.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent negotiations her Department has had with the State Peace and Development Council in Burma concerning the operations of non-governmental organisations in(a) Karenni state and (b) Shan state. [117289]
§ Clare ShortMy Department has no dealings with the State Peace and Development Council. But the Government have urged that non-governmental organisations should be allowed unrestricted access within Burma.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which humanitarian aid has reached the minority tribes of Burma. [117287]
§ Clare ShortUnited Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations report regularly on their activities. Projects implemented at community or village level, avoiding Burmese official channels, generally benefit the poor and disadvantaged, as is intended.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent humanitarian assistance her Department has given via non-governmental bodies in Burma. [117286]
§ Clare ShortThe challenge for the international development community is to help poor people in Burma without helping the government that is largely responsible for keeping them poor. We are attempting to work with others to improve the livelihoods of poor and socially excluded people inside, and who have fled from, Burma; provide support to and build the capacity of civil society; reduce human rights abuses; and contribute to tackling serious threats to public health to poor people inside and adjacent to Burma. We shall publish a Country Strategy Paper shortly.
Four projects are currently being implemented by NGOs financed from the Civil Society Challenge Fund, or the Joint Funding Scheme which it replaced:
Population Services International
- Condom Social Marketing to improve reproductive health £498,197.
- To increase the availability of condoms. To increase the acceptability of condoms. To increased local capacity to prevent A I DS/HIV/STDs.
World Vision
- Street and Working Children £451,224
- To improve the status and quality of life among children.
World Vision
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- Community based disability, prevention and rehabilitation £94,045
- To improve the well being, status and opportunities of disabled people within their own communities and at the national level.
Health Unlimited
- A basic health care programme, Kachin State £250,000
- Establish a basic primary health care service that covers 100.000 people in that part of Burma controlled by the Kachin Independence Organisation.