DFID - Statement on Burma from Douglas Alexander

DFID - Statement on Burma from Douglas Alexander

LONDON. May 9, 2008/3mnewswire.org/-- Commenting on the situation in Burma, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said:

"The situation in Burma is rapidly deteriorating. Many hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake. We are witnessing the worst humanitarian disaster since the Asian tsunami of 2004.

"It is appalling and inexcusable that valuable supplies are piling up outside Burma while people inside the country are dying.

"The Burmese authorities must grant international agencies full and unfettered access now. They must understand that the sole priority of the international community is to help them relieve the suffering of their own people. They must waive visa requirements and allow relief flights into Burma with immediate effect.

"Their behaviour is a challenge to the whole UN system. We are making our views clear at an emergency meeting convened by the UN today which will demand the urgent need for humanitarian access.

"The UK Government is consulting fellow members of the UN Security Council. We urge the UN Secretary General to visit the region as soon as possible to raise the need for immediate access directly with the Burmese authorities and also with key regional partners.

"We have had intensive diplomatic exchanges with key international partners. We and others - including Burma's regional friends such as China, India, Thailand - all agree that the Burmese Government must open up to international assistance. The Foreign Secretary is speaking to his counterparts in the ASEAN region.

"The scale of the disaster and the urgency to act quickly cannot be overstated. Now is the time to work together, in a spirit of common humanity, to save lives."

Background

The UK has already pledged up to £5,000,000 for the relief effort, and we will consider sending more if required. A DFID emergency team is about to travel to Burma to support the work of our team already on the ground and the wider UN effort that is underway.

Some estimates are already placing the number of dead and missing at 100,000 people. 1.5m people are in need of immediate assistance.

3mnewswire.org