Appendix 2: Response from UN High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR)
Letter to the Chairman of the Committee from the
UNHCR Representative to the UK, 28 August 2007
UNHCR welcomes the International Development Committee's
Report on DFID Assistance to Burmese Internally Displaced People
and Refugees on the Thai-Burma Border and the opportunity it provides
the UK Government to re-examine the provision of support and care
for displaced Myanmar nationals.
Whilst noting that the United Kingdom does not specifically
target funds towards UNHCR's work in Thailand or Myanmar, we are
grateful for the UK's continued support for this highly vulnerable
group.
Further to UNHCR briefings provided during the Committee's
visit to Thailand, my colleagues in the region and I wish to take
this opportunity to continue our assistance to the ongoing review
due to its potential impact upon populations of concern and the
benefit we and our NGO partners would derive from DFID's increased
engagement with agencies in the region.
Addressing first the Committee's recommendations
regarding Myanmar refugees in Thailand (due to the specific references
to UNHCR therein), we particularly welcome the Report's over-riding
emphasis on the need for developmental analysis of the refugee
camps, together with the recommendation that DFID demonstrate
greater support to this work. This work would build upon UNHCR/CCSDPT's
2005 gap analysis of protection and assistance needs of refugees
along the Thailand-Myanmar border and its resultant Comprehensive
Plan that addresses camp infrastructure, management, protection,
education, community services and both food and non-food relief
items.
UNHCR also welcomes the Committee's recommendation
for increased UK Government support to UNHCR and NGOs in their
negotiations with the Royal Thai Government (RTG) over official
employment opportunities for refugees. Indeed, the opening up
of hitherto closed camps and permitting access to legal employment
remain needs upon which all other aspects of protection hinge.
We would suggest that the recommendation be re-focused
toward having DFID engage with the Thai authorities (as in the
recommendation for greater advocacy in regard to formal education).
Such demarches would be in co-ordination with, and in support
of, ongoing UNHCR and NGO efforts. Without a strong appeal and
engagement by the international community to resolve these issues,
donors may risk funding the status quo in a protracted refugee
situation.
We also welcome the call for DFID to actively engage
with the RTG in regard to resettlement issues. In reference to
concerns over 'a sudden diminution of capacity amongst the camp
populations' and 'gaps in their skilled workforce', UNHCR would
like to stress that all recognised refugees should have equal
and fair access to resettlement irrespective of their level of
education or skills. We support the statement by the former FCO
Minister of State, Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP, that resettlement
must be based on the vulnerability of the refugee concerned. Further,
specific protection needs of individual refugees would be a key
resettlement factor.
UNHCR stands ready to assist and work together with
NGOs in a smooth transition to mitigate the impact of resettlement
on camps. This should not lead to the exclusion of skilled or
educated refugees from resettlement programmes. There is, however,
a need for the humanitarian community to develop coping and alternative
strategies. Indeed, there are some examples of NGOs which have
undertaken this challenge and such initiatives should be supported.
A more helpful recommendation, therefore, may be for DFID to work
closely with the NGOs in the development and implementation of
capacity building strategies.
Furthermore, in reference to the related call for
a 'strategic reassessment of the appropriate mechanism for dealing
with the long-term interests of refugees', we query the proposed
'delineation' between NGOs providing basic assistance, whilst
UNHCR and Governments address sustainable solutions. Again, there
are NGOs that have made laudable efforts to engage in vocational
training and income-generation activities, thus the recommendation
is not in line with trends that can be observed in the field.
In UNHCR's view and long field experience, separate programme
sectors (care and maintenance vs durable solutions) lacking joint
prioritisation risk generating unnecessary friction and resource
competition. An integrated approach offers a much better outcome,
of which the 2006 UNHCR/CCSDPT Comprehensive Plan is a good example.
Turning to the situation of displaced persons inside
Myanmar, UNHCR shares the Committee's view of the importance of
locally 'owned' responses to displacement. A core part of UNHCR's
programme in south-eastern Myanmar includes establishing a roving
presence to collect and analyse data in order to plan community-based
responses and the expansion of micro projects, with an emphasis
on community mobilisation. UNHCR is committed to developing relationships
with both local and international partners operational in the
Southeast with a view to building trust and forging partnerships
to collectively address the plight of communities affected by
displacement.
In agreement with the Committee recommendation that
the UN, rather than any particular donor, should take the principal
role in coordinating aid, UNHCR also supports the call for DFID
to encourage greater donor coherence and participate actively
in efforts to co-ordinate assistance to internally displaced persons.
Indeed, UNHCR has welcomed previous opportunities to co-ordinate
with DFID in-country, for example on the mapping of activities,
and stands ready to support further efforts of this nature.
To conclude, we trust our comments are of use to
the Committee, and DFID. In taking forward this Report. We note
the ongoing nature of the matter, and offer our assistance both
to the Committee's planned review in 12 months' time and to the
UK Government more generally in advising on and supporting the
measures it can undertake to improve the prospects for Myanmar's
displaced persons and refugees.
| 
