Refugees International Report

Burma Policy Review Makes Major Shift Towards Humanitarian Aid
U.S. Congress Should Appropriate Adequate Funds to Implement Policy

Washington, D.C. – Refugees International applauds the State Department for fully supporting the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma as part of its policy review released today. While the review endorses keeping the major components of long-standing policy in place, the support for humanitarian aid is an important shift. Refugees International encourages the U.S. Congress to provide adequate funding for a humanitarian assistance program that meets the needs of the Burmese people.

“Allowing desperately needed assistance to reach the Burmese people corrects a long-standing flaw in U.S. policy towards Burma,” said Joel Charny, Acting President of Refugees International. “For years, the policy has doubly punished the Burmese people: they have suffered under a regime that directly contributes to their daily hardships, while being denied life-saving assistance by the U.S. government. This new policy will increase desperately needed assistance to the Burmese people through independent channels.”

International humanitarian aid for the Burmese people has not kept pace with their needs. The United Nations Development Program estimates that GDP per capita in Burma is the 13th lowest in the world. An average Burmese family spends 75% of its income on securing food. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Burma receives less overseas development assistance, $4.08 per person (2007), than any of the poorest 55 countries. The average assistance in this group of countries is more than $42 per person.

The Burmese people perpetually live on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, and Cyclone Nargis proved that further disruption can be disastrous. The U.S. was the second largest donor for the Cyclone Nargis response, contributing $75 million to emergency efforts. These efforts showed that it is possible to provide aid inside the country transparently and effectively. However, prior to the cyclone, U.S. contributions were a meager $3 million per year for a country of 55 million people.

Currently, the House and Senate are reconciling differences in the Fiscal Year 2010 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, and there is a $12 million discrepancy. The Senate’s version is more in line with the Administration’s request and new policy.

“Now that the Administration has announced its intention to support humanitarian aid inside Burma, Congress should ensure that it fully funds this program in 2010,” said Charny. “Refugees International supports the Senate appropriation of at least $39.8 million for Burma, and agrees that this money should be used wherever the greatest need exists, both inside the country and for refugees forced to flee to neighboring states.”

Refugees International is a Washington, DC-based organization that advocates to end refugee crises. In February of 2009 the organization traveled to Burma to assess the humanitarian situation inside the country and released a field report in March, “Burma: Capitalizing on the Gains.” For more information, go to http://www.refugeesinternational.org.