DFID objects to Save the Children's aid distribution mode

Solomon - Mizzima News
24 June 2008

New Delhi – An unseemly row has surfaced over distribution of aid to Burma's cyclone victims, with the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) voicing its objection about an aid group channeling its relief distribution through the Burmese military junta.

The DFID, which has provided donations to several aid groups to help Burmese cyclone victims, objected to International Non Governmental Organization, 'Save the Children' giving 9,000 plastic sheets to the regime for distribution.

The DFID objection was in keeping with the written parliamentary statement on Burma's Cyclone Nargis issued on June 3, which states "none of UK's assistance will go through the Burmese regime," said a DFID spokesperson.

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, in a ministerial statement issued on June 18, said "The 9,000 sheets represent around 0.25 per cent of the total of £ 27.5 million committed by the UK for humanitarian assistance in Burma."

The DFID spokesperson on Tuesday told Mizzima, "The sheeting was not given to the Burmese government, these were given to leading NGOs 'Save the Children'," for distribution to the victims.

However, the spokesperson said, the DFID has no plans to curb its aid efforts for cyclone victims but will request concerned aid groups to abide by its rules in the future.

"We are looking at how aid is distributed and the change now has been made to ensure that it is avoided in the future," the spokesperson said.

But Save the Children, one of the first INGOs to rush to the cyclone affected areas in Burma's Irrawaddy and Rangoon division, was not immediately available to clarify on the DFID's charge.

While it is still not clear whether Save the Children had really given Burma's military authorities 9,000 plastic sheeting, an aid worker in Rangoon told Mizzima that the government had earlier placed several conditions on aid groups including private donors, poised to help cyclone survivors.

The Burmese aid worker, who is working with an international aid agency, said private donors have to bribe the local authorities for access to the delta region.

"Many of these groups have to bribe local authorities heavily, and they do not want to reveal this to the media as it will have an adverse impact on their efforts to help cyclone victims," said the aid worker, who request not to be named.

Meanwhile, the Burma Campaign UK, an advocacy group, expressed concern over the allegation made against Save the Children.

"We are very concerned and very disappointed to learn that Save the Children has given aid directly to the regime," Anna Roberts, Director of Burma Campaign UK said.

However, the reason behind it could be the Burmese regime's imposition of restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid and its desire to take credit by delivering aid supplies.

"I think what we need to see now is aid agencies and the international community actually challenging the restrictions on aid, and not actually trying to work with them [the regime]," said Roberts.

Roberts said the international community should increase pressure on the regime to slacken its restriction on aid distribution.

"We need to see Ban Ki–moon go to Burma again, and actually pressure the regime for change," Roberts added.