Speech #1040082784

Mr. Chairman. this amendment that I am offering with the gentleman from California will increase the migration and refugee assistance fund by $1 million to alleviate the refugee crisis on the ThaiBurma border. In keeping with budgetary guidelines. the increase in funding is offset by cuts to the Economic Support Fund. The ramifications of the systematic repression conducted by Burmas ruling military junta. the State Law and Order Restoration Council or [SLORC]. have created a refugee crisis along the ThaiBurma border that is worsening. The launching of a major SLORC military offensive against the Karen refugees this spring resulted in an outflow of an estimated additional 20.000 refugees to Thailand bringing the population to over 90.000. These new developments have serious implications for relief agencies. First. they are faced with unbudgeted expenses moving the refugees and establishing a new camp. and second. the new townsize camp will have different dynamics then the old villagesize camps. The Burma Border Consortium (BBC]. the group of NGOs responsible for rice distribution and relief in the border camps. issued an appeal in March for an increase of $5 million in their budget to cover the continuing worsening refugee situation. The BBC anticipated that it would be stretched to the limit and experiencing a serious cash flow problem by April. I have here a copy of a letter from the Burma Border Consortium Chairman Jack Dunford requesting additional funding. Efforts to combat the growing refugee crisis along the ThaiBurma border could be expedited with this additional funding particularly if NGOs on both sides of the border were empowered with proper financing. The Thai Government should not have to bear the burden of this refugee population alone. A clear signal must be sent that the international community is willing and able to assist the Thai. thus preventing the return of refugees to unsafe and unacceptable conditions. The RichardsonRohrabacher amendment increasing the migration and refugee assistance funds by $1 million will enable organizations working along both sides of the ThaiBurma border to facilitate the settlement of additional refugees. Mr. Chairman.