Humanitarian Assistance in Burma

Derek Mitchell, Senior Fellow and Director for Asia, CSIS International Security Program

Joel Charny, Vice President for Policy, Refugees International
Thet Win, Founder, U.S. Collection, Humanitarian Corps
Peter Yeo, Democratic Deputy Chief of Staff, House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Cyclone Nargis directed the world’s attention to the acute suffering of the Burmese people and the difficulties of delivering humanitarian assistance in its aftermath. However, Burma has been in chronic crisis for decades, and the ruling military junta has long severely restricted the ability of international organizations to distribute aid.  The panelists will discuss current humanitarian concerns in Burma, report on recent missions to the country, and offer their perspectives on what options exist for improving the delivery of assistance to those most in need.