Refugees International is assessing the humanitarian situation in Burma through a mission involving travel inside the country as well as to the Thai-Burma border. The objective is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the needs of the Burmese people, the response to those needs by international and local organizations, and the gaps in the response, whether caused by government restrictions, lack of external support, or other factors.

The immediate context of the mission is the September 2007 "saffron revolution," the spontaneous demonstrations inside Burma led by monks protesting rising fuel costs and the chronic poverty affecting the Burmese people. The government violently suppressed these protests, and the political situation remains stalemated despite mediation efforts undertaken by Ibrahim Gambari, the special envoy of the UN Secretary General.

Inside the country, RI plans to meet with the representatives of United Nations agencies and international and local non-governmental and community-based organizations. In Bangkok and at the Thai-Burma border, RI will be meeting with groups involved in the cross-border assistance effort to reach areas affected by conflict outside the control of the Burmese government. The priority is to assess the operating environment for aid organizations and the degree to which assistance can be provided without strengthening repressive structures.

Based on the results of the assessment, RI expects to recommend specific ways for international donors, especially the United States, to respond more comprehensively and effectively to the needs of the Burmese people, including those affected by conflict and human rights violations.