EU humanitarian assistance for victims of the crisis in Burma-Myanmar

Sumario: June 29, 2004: Commission provides additional €8.1 million in humanitarian assistance for victims of the crisis in Burma/Myanmar (Brussels)

FR - DE

The European Commission has adopted two humanitarian aid decisions worth a total of €8.1 million to assist victims of the ongoing and largely forgotten crisis in Burma/Myanmar. The decisions will provide much-needed assistance to vulnerable people facing extreme hardship. Support will include access to primary health care and clean water and sanitation, assistance to mine victims and child protection. The humanitarian aid will be targeting Burmese refugees in Thailand as well as vulnerable populations inside Burma/Myanmar.

A first decision, worth €4.65 million, will support Burmese refugees in Thailand. An estimated 140,000 refugees are living in and around nine camps located close to the Burma/Myanmar border. This is a large increase from the 92,000 refugees in the camps in 1995. These refugees remain completely dependent on international aid. Under this new decision, ECHO will fund the provision of:

key foodstuffs and cooking fuel for some 60,000 refugees in two camps;
safe water, sanitation and basic healthcare for a further 60,000 uprooted people along the border;
assistance to mine victims and refugees suffering from serious physical handicaps, together with mine awareness activities for refugee communities.

The second decision, for €3.42 million, focuses on vulnerable populations inside Burma/Myanmar. Complementing existing ECHO activities, the funds will provide targeted support to rural people in the most remote regions who have no access to basic social services.

The funding will cover:

Health activities, notably malaria treatment and care for mothers and children, targeting an estimated 560,000 direct beneficiaries.
Water and sanitation improvements benefiting more than 40,000 people.
Child protection with an emphasis on improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups living in special centres (orphans, former street children, children in detention).

Over the past two years, ECHO has allocated more than €20.5 million for relief activities inside Burma/Myanmar and along the Thai-Burma/Myanmar border.

According to the terms of the Common Position, which was renewed on 26 April 2004, the EU provides only humanitarian assistance.

For further information:

The EU's relations with Burma/Myanmar - Overview

Ref: EC04-158EN
Fuente UE: Comisión Europea
Foro NU:
Fecha: 29/6/2004

| Arriba |

< Vuelta a la pagina anterior