Brussels, 03/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - Last Wednesday, the European Commission granted EUR 11.65 million aid for vulnerable groups and refugees in Burma. Commissioner Louis Michel said that the decision to send aid was in response to the acute humanitarian needs of vulnerable people in Burma. The EU's humanitarian aid office ECHO, aided by a technical assistance bureau in Rangoon, will implement the aid to protect and meet health, food and water needs of nearly 470,000 people in Burma and provide humanitarian aid to some 150,000 people taking refuge along the border with Thailand. This is the third tranche of aid to Burma in 2004, bringing the 2004 total to EUR 19.72 million.
Within Burma itself, vulnerable people from minority ethnic groups will benefit from several programmes. In order to avert malaria, villages need access to local healthcare structures and mobile clinics. Teams will be sent to mobile nutrition centres for children and pregnant women suffering from malnutrition, which can provide food aid at home. The rehabilitation of healthcare infrastructure and health education will help cut mortality rates due to water-borne diseases. Aid will be provided to ensure protection and respect of vulnerable groups and support action carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The number of refugees on the borders between Burma and Thailand has risen by 50,000 in the past ten years, virtually all of them surviving on international aid. The EU's aid takes the form of basic food and cooking fuel and healthcare, along with other aid.