Refugees at Risk from Rising Food Prices

For immediate Release

(Ottawa – April 16, 08) The Canadian Friends of Burma and other Burmese activists in Canada are raising alarm that rapidly rising food prices have put Burmese refugees in Thailand’s refugee camps at risk.

Tin Maung Htoo, the Executive Director of Friends of Burma, said that price increases are posing a crisis for the 142,000 refugees in Thailand’s camps. “Rice is the staple food for refugees,” he said “and humanitarian agencies are facing serious challenges to raise enough funds continue to feed them.” Rice prices in Asia have increased from $360 to $760 a ton in the last several months, and could possibly rise to $1000 a ton.

International agencies supporting the refugee program in Thailand are scrambling to find additional funds. Jack Dunford, the Executive Director of the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium, the main humanitarian agency feeding refugees, was in Ottawa this week meeting with government officials to request additional Canadian funds. He left Ottawa empty-handed.

“Canada has been a key supporter of the Burmese democracy struggle,” said Mr. Tin Maung Htoo. “We have been very pleased with the government’s position with respect to democracy and human rights. But we also urgently need additional humanitarian assistance otherwise these people could face starvation. ”

Canada is among fourteen other countries providing assistance to Burmese refugees in Thailand. However, Canada is among the smallest government donors, providing about 2% of the costs of the refugee food program. So far, Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands have announced additional assistance to deal with the price crisis.

For more information contact:
Tin Maung Htoo,
Canadian Friends of Burma,
ph: 613 297-6835

___________________________
*The Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB)
is federally incorporated,
national non-governmental organization
working for democracy and
human rights in Burma since 1991.

Contact:
Suite 206
145 Spruce St.
Ottawa, K1R 6P1
Tel: 613.237.8056
Email: cfob@cfob.org
Web: www.cfob.org

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