Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Burma calling for an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid access to Kachin and northern Shan States, Burma.
The UK Government is deeply concerned by the conflict in Kachin and Northern Shan, and particularly by reports of violations involving civilian casualties and the restriction of humanitarian access to internally displaced people. We continue to raise these issues with the Government of Burma as a matter of urgency, including during the human-rights focused visit to Burma from 9 – 12 November of the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Baroness Anelay.
The UK has provided over £18.1 million in essential humanitarian and health assistance in Kachin and Northern Shan states from 2012 until the end of the last financial year, and approximately a further £5 million this year.