UK Aid in Burma

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UK Aid in Burma UKAID In BUrmA What is international development? also renewed the government’s International development is about commitment to increase UK aid to helping people fight poverty. Thanks 0.7% of national income from 2013. to the efforts of governments and people around the world, there are What is the Department for 500 million fewer people living in International Development? poverty today than there were 25 The Department for International years ago. But there is still much Development (DFID), leads the UK more to do. government’s fight against world poverty. 1.4 billion people still live on less than $1.25 a day. More needs to Since its creation in 1997, DFID has happen to increase incomes, settle helped more than 250 million people conflicts, increase opportunities for lift themselves from poverty and trade, tackle climate change, improve helped 40 million more children to people’s health and their chances to go to primary school. But there is get an education. still much to do to help make a fair, safe and sustainable world for all. Why is the UK government involved? Through its network of offices Each year the UK government helps throughout the world, DFID three million people to lift themselves works with governments of out of poverty. Ridding the world developing countries, charities, of poverty is not just morally right, non‑government organisations, it will make the world a better businesses and international place for everyone. Problems faced organisations, like the United by poor countries affect all of us, Nations, European Commission and including the UK. Britain’s fastest the World Bank, to eliminate global growing export markets are in poor poverty and its causes. DFID also countries. Weak government and responds to overseas emergencies. social exclusion can cause conflict, threatening peace and security DFID’s work forms part of a global around the world. All countries of promise, the eight UN ‘Millennium the world face dangerous climate Development Goals’, for tackling change together. elements of global poverty by 2015. The 2009 White Paper, Building our What is UKaid? Common Future, set out the UK UKaid is the logo DFID uses to government’s approach to tackling demonstrate how the UK government’s global poverty in the context of the development work is improving the challenges posed by the world lives of the world’s poorest people. recession, climate change and countries affected by conflict or bad governance. The White Paper 1 InTrODUCTIOn Burma, in Southeast Asia, has a current regime, the State Peace and population of about 50 million Development Council (SPDC), has people, and is a little bigger than undertaken to hold elections for a France in terms of land area. The new government during 2010. majority ethnic group, the Bamar, Economic and social policies have account for about 68% of the so far failed to release the country’s population. Other ethnic groups huge economic potential. The benefits include the Kayin (Karen), Kachin, from natural resources such as oil, Chin, Mon, Shan and Rakhine. gas, mining and timber have not Burma’s ethnic diversity has played reached the majority of the a major role in defining its political population. Spending on social history and the country continues sectors such as health and to face ethnic tensions and conflict. education has been low by Burma has been ruled by military international standards. governments since 1962. The DFID is providing £3.3 million over three years from 2007 for basic education through a UNICEF multi‑donor fund. Credit: DFID/ Richard Butterworth COnTEnTS 2 WHY WE ArE WE WOrKInG IN BURMA? Some Key Facts 4 HOW WE WOrK In BUrmA 6 WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED SO FAr rural Livelihoods Cyclone nargis 12 DFID BUrmA 2 WHY ArE WE WOrKInG In BUrmA? Burma is rich in natural resources, decades of political unrest and yet it is one of the poorest countries armed conflict has displaced an in Asia. Reliable data about poverty estimated 500,000 people, severely in Burma is scarce, but all the evidence disrupting their livelihoods. About indicates widespread poverty and 140,000 people live as refugees in vulnerability. A third of the population camps in Thailand. (16.5 million people) do not have Government spending on basic enough money to meet their basic healthcare and education combined food and living needs. While poverty is less than US $1 per person each affects all ethnic groups, it is often year, one of the lowest levels of worst amongst the ethnic minorities. social investment in the world. The In Chin State for example 70% of public education system is crumbling, people live below the poverty line. with the result that most of the The Muslim Rohingya population of current generation of schoolchildren northern Rakhine State suffers will be less well‑educated than their particularly. In the border areas parents. Thousands of people die each of eastern Burma, more than five year from preventable and treatable Over the last two years, DFID has spent £880,000 to help people in Chin State like Daw Kan Lwe and her family to overcome severe food shortages. Credit: DFID/Paul Whittingham 3 diseases like TB and malaria. Too many aid to Burma in 2008 was less than women and children die unnecessarily US$11 per person, compared with from complications of pregnancy & $80 in Laos and $58 in Sudan. In childbirth, and from poverty‑related 2007, Burma had received a mere $4 diseases such as diarrhoea. per head. Our experience is that it is possible to deliver aid effectively in HIV/AIDS presents a major public Burma, directly benefiting its poorest health risk. Burma has one of the people. This is why we have trebled highest HIV infection rates in Asia, our programme there since 2007/08, while it is estimated that less than and we are encouraging other aid a third of those in need of lifesaving donors to follow our example. anti‑retroviral treatment actually receive it. The UK government has made it clear that, should there be genuine But Burma receives very little aid progress towards political and for its people compared with other economic reform in Burma, we countries with similar levels of would be ready to work with the poverty. Even with the boost in international community to provide emergency assistance following a substantial package of economic Cyclone Nargis, total international assistance to the country. SOmE KEY FACTS J Women dying in childbirth: 380 per 100,000 live births. UK: 8 per 100,000. J Children dying before age 5: 103 per 1,000. UK: 6 per 1,000. J Percentage of people aged 15‑49 living with HIV/AIDS: 0.7%. UK: 0.2%. J Average life expectancy: 62 years. UK: 79 years. J Percentage of people with access to improved water supplies: 82%. J Percentage of children completing primary education: estimated at less than 50%. J Percentage of children malnourished: 34%. (Data for Burma is difficult to obtain and some of it is unreliable.) 4 HOW WE WOrK In BUrmA Development and political progress The UK is one of a few countries with cannot be separated in Burma. A a significant aid programme in Burma. genuine and sustained move The Department for International towards political reconciliation, Development (DFID) has been accountable government and increasing its aid, from £9 million respect for human rights is essential in financial year 2007/08 to £28 for long‑term development and million in 2010/11. poverty reduction. Children UK policy is to use targeted waiting for their measles European Union sanctions to jabs at an encourage the Burmese ‘Immunisation government to make progress Day’ in Kawyin Auk towards political reconciliation and Village, Hpaan respect for human rights, while Township, avoiding measures which hurt Kayin State Credit: DFID/ ordinary Burmese people. Oliver Keetch We do not give economic aid to Burma, but we are able to provide assistance which helps to address the needs of many of its people who are living in deep poverty. UK aid to Burma Financial year 2007/08: £9 million 2008/09 £12.5 million (plus £45 million emergency aid for Cyclone Nargis) 2009/10: £25 million 2010/11: £28 million These sums do not include aid provided indirectly through the UK’s core contributions to United Nations bodies and the European Commission. Clinic in Kwin Chaung village, Irrawaddy Delta 5 Credit: DFID In 2008/09, DFID’s total aid to J health; Burma exceeded £57 million: J pre‑school and primary £45 million in emergency education; humanitarian relief following J the improvement of rural Cyclone Nargis, which hit Burma livelihoods; and in May 2008; and £12.5 million J support for Burmese refugees in longer‑term aid. in Thailand and people displaced by conflict inside Burma. Our programme aims to reach the poorest and most vulnerable Across our programme, we seek people. Working through the opportunities to build the United Nations and reputable capacity of local Burmese international and local non‑ organisations to give people a governmental organisations, we greater say in decisions affecting focus on the following key areas: their lives. 6 What we have achieved so far We are making a real impact on provide education materials for more the lives of poor people without than 700,000 children in 2,440 benefiting the Burmese primary schools since 2007. We have government. also provided early childhood care and education for thousands of Since 2006, the Three Diseases children and helped to pay for Fund, a multi‑donor trust fund repairs to 1,100 primary schools and supported by DFID, has made a improved sanitation facilities in significant contribution to the over 3,000 schools.
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