BURMA:Aid projects are running normally in Burma, but there is concern over the reactivation of a regulation banning gatherings of over five people, said Bernard Delpeuch, head of the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (Echo) in Rangoon.
"There are some 48 international non-government organisations in the country. They are continuing to work and to receive travel authorisations to visit projects. International staff are being granted visas to enter the country. But activities linked to food distribution and health programmes are a concern," he said.
"Regulation 44 means people are technically not supposed to gather for any reason, which could affect food distributions and also healthcare provision around activities in clinics," he said.
Negotiations over the operation of the regulation and other issues happen mainly at local level. In another case, an NGO in Rakhine state was ordered by local authorities to remove a "No Weapons" sign on its car, after local authorities took offence.
Echo's mandate in Burma is to support mainly the health and nutrition of people regarded as the most vulnerable, many of whom are in rural areas such as Eastern Shan state and Northern Rakhine state.
- Special correspondent in Rangoon