Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the intensifying conflict in Kachin and Northern Shan states in Burma; what representations they have made to the government and military of Burma to address the crisis; and what steps they are taking to respond to the needs of internally displaced peoples in those areas.

The UK is deeply concerned about the intensifying conflict in Kachin and Northern Shan states. We raised our concerns about credible reports of human rights abuses and violations in those regions at the Human Rights Council's Interactive Dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on Burma on 19 September 2017. The British Ambassador in Rangoon visited Kachin State from 8 to 10 January 2018 to discuss the situation with local political and religious leaders as well as UN and non-governmental organisation representatives, and visit an Internally Displaced Persons camp. The UK has contributed £4.1 million this financial year to humanitarian assistance for conflict affected people in Kachin and Northern Shan States, including in non-government controlled areas.