§ 13. Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Government are providing to the displaced Karenni people on the Thai-Burmese border. [84699]
§ Clare ShortThere are an estimated 130,000 refugees from Karen and Kayah state, living in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. Some authorities in Thailand have estimated that a total of 1 million people from Burma live outside of camps in Thailand. The situation for all refugees and internally displaced persons remains extremely vulnerable.
In 2002–03, my Department has so far disbursed funds of £1.3 million for humanitarian assistance to support both refugees and internally displaced people within Burma/Thailand. The funding is channelled through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross.