Bob Russell (Colchester, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of people living in relocation sites as a result of the Myitsone Dam project in Burma; what assistance his Department has provided for such people in the last year; and if he will make a statement.Alan Duncan (Minister of State, International Development; Rutland and Melton, Conservative)
Sources suggest about 400 households, including around 2,000 people, have been displaced to a new village. The Department for International Development has made no specific allocation to those re-located but is supporting NGOs which are providing assistance to 27,500 internally displaced people in other areas of Kachin State over the next four months.It is important that the Burmese Government listen to the needs and interests of their people in deciding the future of this project. We note that Aung San Suu Kyi supported the President's decision to suspend the construction during her meeting with the Burmese Minister of Labour on 30 September 2011. We welcome this further stage of dialogue and urge the Burmese Government to ensure that it continues.
